Autumn is the period in which the harvest takes place throughout Italy which is celebrated with traditional events and festivals such as the Sughitti festival in the Marche. Here every year in the historic village of Montecassiano, one of the most beautiful in Italy, is celebrated one of the typical products of these territories, one of the best known of the area of Macerata.
These are Sughitti a dessert made using must, corn flour and nuts. Every year in these days the inhabitants of the village and the many tourists who arrived for the occasion pour into the alleys to celebrate this sweet tradition.
What is and where does the Sughitti festival take place?
The festival of the Sughitti is a traditional festival that takes place every year on the first weekend of October in the historic center of the small village of Montecassiano in the province of Macerata. The alleys around the main square of the village for the occasion become a riot of autumn colors. In fact, the corners of the streets, the windows of the houses and the arches are decorated with garlands of pampini and with white and red grapes.
The festival of the Sughitti: what they are and how they are prepared
The typical sughitti of Montecassiano have always been prepared following a strict discipline. First of all, the must used must be the one obtained from the grapes used to make the wine and not with the table one. The must must must be passed through a strainer to remove all impurities. Then put the must on the fire in a pan until it is reduced by at least a third.
At this point or pass it again in the colander and put it back on the heat by adding the corn flour during cooking. The mixture that is obtained after about thirty minutes must be slightly gelatinous and creamy. At this point it is possible to add shelled nuts and serve it in a low bowl. After it has cooled, cut it into squares or diamonds and serve.
The history and program of the Sughitti festival
The festival of Montecassiano was born in 1930 when the Fascist Party ordered that in all municipalities should be held the festival of grapes. This was done with the intention of promoting the sale and consumption of wine and grapes but also to enhance the image of rural Italy and to obtain the consent of the peasant class. For the next four years the celebrations took place regularly.
It was then interrupted for many years and then resumed in the ’70s. From that moment it is known as the Sughitti festival as it celebrates the excellence of this traditional product of the Marche region that is a gastronomic excellence of the territory. Today the script of the festival is remained almost unchanged. During the event there are songs and dances and the streets of the village are crossed by decorated carts. In addition, the streets are installed stalls where the Sughitti are served.
What to see in Montecassiano?
Montecassiano is one of the most beautiful historic villages in Italy and is characterized by the presence of concentric streets that culminate in the central square. In addition, there are the medieval walls that protect the heart of the historic center of the small village of the Marche and allow access thanks to the ancient gates.
The main one is Porta San Giovanni then there are Porta Diaz and Porta Cesare Battisti. Through one of the gates you enter the city center to get to the central square. Here there are important buildings. It is the fifteenth-century palace of the Priors and the convent of the Augustinians. A staircase leads to the church of Santa Maria Assunta. The altarpiece of the terracotta altar by Mattia della Robbia is kept here.
Other traditional dishes of the Marche
The traditional cuisine of the Marche is also interesting because the territory offers a great variety of typical products. This is possible because of its particular geographical conformation that includes both mountain reliefs and seaside resorts. The dishes of the Marche tradition are characterized by their peasant aspect in which they dominate the use of mushrooms, truffles and olives.
The cuisine of the Marche is famous for its stuffed foods. Without any doubt the most known and appreciated is that of the Ascoli olives. This recipe of ancient origins involves the use of Ascoli olives that are pitted and then stuffed with a mixture of beef, pork and chicken. Then they are breaded to be fried in hot oil.
Also very appreciated is the crepe that is a bread similar to piadina. This is then stuffed with local meats and cheeses typical of the area. A famous recipe is also that of stockfish all’anconetana. The dish consists of pieces of stockfish served on a bed of chopped celery, carrots, onions and tomatoes.
Copertina: corriereadriatico
