Franco Santasilia, a leading expert on Neapolitan cuisine, has died in Marrakech. The 90-year-old engineer and marquis had been hospitalized in a local clinic since Monday after a bad fall.
From Naples to Morocco: A Life Between Aristocracy and Neapolitan Flavors
Born in Naples in 1935 into an aristocratic family of Spanish origins, Santasilia chose Morocco as his home for about 30 years. His home in the "Pink City" became one of the most exclusive intellectual salons, a destination for the world's elite during a sort of local Belle Époque.
A passion for cooking: from cult book to the table of the powerful
His culinary vocation was born in the 60s, inspired by his mother, Leopoldina Caracciolo di Castagneto. In 1988, he published La cucina aristocratica napoletana (The Aristocratic Neapolitan Cuisine), a work that meticulously blended Neapolitan and French traditions.
Iconic families such as the Agnellis, the Marzottos, the Bulgaris, and the Dukes of Kent sat at his table, as well as figures from the worlds of culture, cinema, and diplomacy. Santasilia was a member of the Italian Academy of Cuisine, the American Institute for Wine and Food, and the International Association for Culinary Professionals.
He leaves behind his wife Maria Raffaella and his children Maria Sole, Giada and Ludovico.
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Comments (1)
It's a great sadness to hear of Franco Santasilia's passing. He was a very special man who dedicated his life to Neapolitan cuisine. His legacy will live on forever through the flavors and traditions he shared.