Bernardo Timante Buonacorsi, known as Bernardo Buontalenti and sometimes by the nickname "Bernardo delle Girandole", was an Italian stage designer, architect, theatrical designer, military engineer, artist, and the purported inventor of Italian ice cream.

Gelato is the common word in Italian for all kinds of ice cream. In English, it specifically refers to a frozen dessert of Italian origin. Artisanal gelato in Italy generally contains 6–9% butterfat, which is lower than other styles of frozen dessert. Gelato typically contains 35% air and more flavoring than other kinds of frozen desserts, giving it a density and richness that distinguishes it from other ice creams.