Giglio Onelio Francini: four generations of Neapolitan pizza, now DOC certified

From Castellammare di Stabia to Arrecife: the story of La Sonrisa's pizzaiolo and the two Accademia Nazionale Pizza DOC certifications that recognise his work.

Some stories don't begin with the person telling them. The story of Giglio Onelio Francini, La Sonrisa's pizzaiolo, began long before him: between flour, fire and family, in Castellammare di Stabia, on the Gulf of Naples.

“I carry in my hands a story that did not begin with me, but long before — between flour, fire and family.”

A four-generation legacy

Giglio is a fourth-generation pizzaiolo. He grew up surrounded by dough and ovens, and learned that pizza is not just a recipe: it is a way of taking care of people. That craft, handed down from parent to child, is what he brings to Lanzarote today.

For him, pizza is memory, identity and home. Every piece he makes carries a memory of his childhood, his people and his land. Everything he is comes from his beloved Castellammare di Stabia, and with every pizza he tries to bring a little piece of that place to the world.

From tradition to a modern pizza

Giglio took that tradition and transformed it with respect and passion. The result is a modern pizza with a highly digestible dough, worked with time, heart and love, and made with ingredients of the highest quality.

Every pizza at La Sonrisa is finished with extra virgin olive oil, Grana Padano and fresh basil. And to keep that standard every single day, the team works with partners specialised in Italian products such as Carbone, La Verace and IF&B Foodservice.

Awards and recognition: a double Pizza DOC 2026 certification

This year, the work of Giglio and the whole team received a very special recognition: the Accademia Nazionale Pizza DOC, the Italian body that certifies the quality of pizzerias and pizzaioli, awarded La Sonrisa two certifications.

Accademia Nazionale Pizza DOC · 2026

The Pizzeria DOC 2026 certification recognises the restaurant as a whole. The Pizzaiolo DOC 2026 certification recognises Giglio personally and the way he works the dough. Both carry the three-peel distinction.

On top of these seals comes the recognition we value most: our guests'. Their reviews on Google and Tripadvisor place La Sonrisa among the best-rated restaurants in Arrecife.

Naples at heart

Step inside La Sonrisa and you will understand where Giglio comes from. The walls tell the story of Naples: its alleys, Totò and, of course, Diego Armando Maradona, the number 10 the city keeps forever in its heart.

Friends from the Canaries, from Spain and from all over the world! The table is set. Come and taste four generations of pizza, now with the DOC seal, at our Neapolitan pizzeria in the heart of Arrecife, Lanzarote.

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