It is a semi-frozen, chilled dessert made with alchermes, cake, and ice cream.

It is widely believed to have been inspired by the dome of Florence's duomo (the city's main cathedral).

The original recipe included ricotta cheese, cocoa, and citrus peel for the filling; it was actually monochrome, white.

The outside of the biscuit was impregnated with essence or alchermes liqueur, which gave the dessert a vibrant red colour.

[2] The dessert is thought to have been invented by the famous Renaissance chef Bernardo Buontalenti.