1525: the painter Bernardino Luini, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, was commissioned to embellish the Sanctuary of Saronno dedicated to the Madonna dei Miracoli. To paint the Madonna, he chose a beautiful local innkeeper as his model. The innkeeper thanked him by giving him a mug full of a fragrant and delicate amber-coloured liqueur.
Giovanni Reina (1600): at that time, many families produced their own liqueurs, digestives and various compounds to cure all kinds of illnesses. One of these families was the Reina family, and in 1600, Giovanni Reina rediscovered the ancient recipe for amber liqueur.
Domenico Reina (1900): the recipe was then handed down secretly, from generation to generation, until, at the beginning of the last century, Domenico Reina decided to open a workshop in the centre of Saronno: 'Domenico Reina Coloniali'. Soon the shop became a real crossroads where people passed by, tasted and bought.
1940: ILLVA Saronno is founded. ILLVA SARONNO: Industria, Lombarda, Liquori, Vini & Affini, was founded on the wave of this artisan activity (23rd July 1947) and Disaronno soon became a symbol of Italian taste.
The international boom (1960): the 1960s were the years of great exportation and international success, first in the European market and then in the United States, which showed particular appreciation for Italian liqueurs.
At the end of the '70s and the beginning of the '80s, the great transformation of the company took place. The liqueur retained its usual flavour, but was presented and promoted in as many countries as possible with an ingenious and daring operation of contacting retailers all over the world. The product was liked, even more than expected, and ILLVA SARONNO began to consolidate its success and its presence at international level.
From the 1990s to the present day, the company has increasingly become a spokesman for the Italian style of drinking in the world. Present in more than 160 countries, ILLVA SARONNO has strengthened its position on the international market, developing synergies with prestigious industrial companies and participating in events of worldwide resonance, related to art, music and cinema.