The picturesque town of Bobbio is preparing to celebrate the festive atmosphere of the Christmas season with a unique event: the Snail Festival and the Christmas Market. This unusual combination of regional traditions and Christmas holidays creates an interesting experience. The appointment is for December 10th.
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The Snail Festival and the Christmas Market offer a festive and multisensory atmosphere in the festive streets of the village of Piacenza, located to the left of the river Trebbia, between two rivers (Bobbio and Dorbida) at the foot of Mount Penice.
The event not only offers the opportunity to taste the recipe of snails according to the Bobbiese gastronomic tradition, but also allows you to immerse yourself in the magic of the Christmas period.
The program of the event
The event offers a rich variety of activities that celebrate local traditions and the warmth of the Christmas holidays, inviting participants to live an engaging and memorable experience. Here is the program:
- 8.30 – Opening of the Market in Piazza Duomo and Piazza S. Fara: The Market comes to life with stalls, offering a variety of craft products, unique gifts and local delicacies;
- 11.00 – Opening Ceremony of the Festival: The official opening of the event is celebrated with a ceremony that captures the festive spirit of the Snail Festival and the Christmas Market;
- 12.00 – Tasting of the “Snails at the Bobbiese”: In Piazza Duomo, the Sodalizio Ra Familia Bubieiza offers free tasting of the authentic “Snails at the Bobbiese”, prepared according to the traditional recipe;
- 16.00 – Children’s show – In Piazzetta Santa Chiara, at the Auditorium Philippe Daverio, there will be an engaging free show for children.
Snail Festival, the tradition with the “Snails Bobbiese”
Considered a gastronomic delicacy in many culinary traditions, the snail finds in Bobbio a celebration of its own. Local chefs and culinary enthusiasts prepare delicious dishes based on snails, from traditional snails to sauce to the most modern and innovative preparations.
The Snail Festival allows visitors to enjoy the traditional recipe of “Snails alla bobbiese”, accompanied by local wines and other regional specialties, all in a lively and joyful atmosphere.
For those who don’t know, it is a dish made with snails in a stew that is usually prepared during Christmas Eve in Bobbio and in some other Italian cities.
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The plus of the Christmas Market
The program of the Snail Festival, together with the Christmas Market, is designed to discover local specialties, immerse visitors in the Christmas atmosphere and spend unforgettable moments in a festive and welcoming.
The Snail Festival, in fact, adds the touch of festivity and magic of the Christmas Market. The narrow streets of the historic center are full of stalls that offer handmade Christmas decorations, original gifts, typical local products, traditional sweets and handmade creations. The atmosphere is imbued with aromas of spices and traditional sweets, creating an enchanting setting for families and visitors of all ages.
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It is an event made of magic and fun for the whole family: adults can go shopping, enjoy delicacies and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Christmas while children can participate in the show dedicated to them.
Snail Festival, an eye to culture
Between shopping, taste buds in celebration and Christmas atmosphere there is also space for culture for those who decide to visit the Abbey of San Colombano, nucleus of Bobbio until the late Middle Ages.
Hidden among the ancient streets of the village, this basilica is the result of the work of the Benedictine monks in the period between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It actually rests on the remains of the 9th-century convent church.
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An element of curiosity is the inscription “terribilis est locus iste” on the entrance of the church that recalls the sacred character of the place and the invitation to access with respect to this space.
The artistic masterpieces that adorn the basilica are many and include the frescoes in the central nave and the Madonna and Child between Saints Benedict and Catherine painted by Bernardino Lanzani and the miracles performed by Saint Columbanus by Francesco Natali in the presbytery area.
The crypt is even more amazing. At an intermediate level there is the mosaic that once formed the floor of the ancient basilica on which the Abbey was erected while inside there is the tomb of the Irish monk, along with those of Sant’Attala and San Bertulfo.
The Abbey of San Colombano is a combination of history, art and spirituality that continues to fascinate, offering an exciting exploration in one of the most significant places of the city.
How to get to Bobbio
Those who opt for a car can leave the A1 motorway at Piacenza Sud and follow the signs for Bobbio. The route provides for transit on the ring road of Piacenza and then along the State Road 45 towards Bobbio and Val Trebbia. If you arrive from Genoa, the route will be similar, proceeding along the State Road 45 towards Piacenza.
For air travellers, the option is to land at the airports of Milan Linate or Malpensa and take a bus to Milan central station, then continue by train.
For those who prefer to travel by train, the option is to get off at Piacenza station and then take advantage of a direct bus connection that leads to Bobbio.
Check public transport schedules and enjoy your meal.
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