If there is an aspect that unites all the Italian regions is that, at any time of the year, you can participate in festivals typical of the territory. These are usually opportunities to discover, taste and buy local products and dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients, as well as unmissable events to deepen the popular culture and tradition, as well as historical re-enactments that often refer to the Middle Ages or to ancestral traditions.
Starting from the far north, then from the Aosta Valley, among the events organized among the various villages are absolutely unmissable:
the Battle of the Queen, every Sunday from March to October, during which spectators can watch the fight between specimens of cows of the Aosta Valley;
the Feast of Saint Ursula, in January, based on food, dances, songs, music and pure fun;
the Festa del Lardo, famous for its typical Valdostan product, in August;
the Summer Fair, which always takes place in August, and the Desarpa, a festival that celebrates the transhumance of cattle;
the Apple Festival, which takes place in October and celebrates a fruit symbol of the entire region.
Fonte: valledaostaglocal.it
A short distance away, Piedmont offers inhabitants and visitors a large number of annual festivals focused mainly on local products:
- the Black Truffle Fair of Scagnello, organized in March with the aim of making known to as many people as possible this precious product;
- the Gorgonzola Festival in Cavallermaggiore, much loved by the Piedmontese, organized in two weekends in April;
- the Sagra D’la Carn a la Losa, that is the festival of the losa meat that accompanies the patronal feast in July;
- the Sagra del Fritto Misto alla Piemontese, a traditional popular dish that is celebrated in August in Montaldo;
- Bagna Cauda Day, a festival organized in November starring the traditional bagna cauda.
Fonte: ilturista.info
Region that goes, festival that meets; and in Lombardy certainly do not miss opportunities to celebrate local delicacies:
- at the Taleggio Festival in Peghera, which celebrates one of the most famous dairy products of the territory;
- the Casoncello Festival in Strozza, in August, which honors a unique and exquisite dish to accompany with wine, music and fun
- the Foiade Festival, which every year attracts the attention of hundreds of Bergamasco ready to enjoy the typical foiada together with succulent grilled meat;
- the Moscato Festival in Scanzo, dedicated to Moscato wine, a real excellence of local wine production, in early September;
- the Black Truffle Festival in Bracca, between late September and early October, which celebrates the black truffle through tastings of typical specialties and cultural meetings.
Fonte: habitante.it
There are also festivals in Trentino Alto Adige, scattered among its mountain paths alternating with wooded and flat paths:
- The Char Festival, in June, with tastings of typical dishes based – precisely – Char;
- the Apple Festival, an event that in October in the town of Cles allows you to taste different varieties of apples DOP Val di Non freshly harvested;
- The Sagra della Ciuiga, which takes place in early November in San Lorenzo in Banale to celebrate the most famous sausage of all Trentino.
Fonte: iltrentinodeibambini.it
Just move a little to reach Veneto, where the spectacular landscapes and the inner villages create the perfect setting for local festivals:
the Chioggia Fish Festival, an event that celebrates the mixed fried with polenta and grilled seafood;
the Festival of the Carmine of Sorio di Gambellara, in the province of Vicenza, with the protagonist of the brasadelo, a typical dessert;
The Cod Festival, organized in late summer in Sandrigo, based on Norwegian stockfish of the Lofoten Islands.
Fonte: vivovenetia.it
And even Friuli Venezia Giulia is not far behind: the typical local products loved and appreciated all over the world, offered by its rich territory, are celebrated in numerous seasonal festivals. Here are the main ones:
- the San Daniele Ham Festival, held in June in San Daniele del Friuli, with the protagonist of the famous Friulian sausage;
- the Montasio Cheese Festival, organized in August in Chiusaforte, in honor of Montasio PDO cheese;
- the Asparagus Exhibition, between April and May, featuring the local vegetable;
- the Great Polenta Festival, in August in Prato Carnico;
- the Bread Festival, in Moggio Udinese;
- the Festival of Herbs, which pays homage to wild herbs;
- the Festival of Frico, a typical appetizer of the Friulian farmers;
- the Sagra dei Cjarons, ravioli typical of Carnia, which takes place between May and August.
Fonte: agendaonline.it
For its part, Liguria uses local festivals as an opportunity to celebrate in particular the fish products, coming from its clear and crystalline waters, but not only:
- the Raviolo di Pesce Festival, in the town of Luceto;
- the Sagra della Focaccia con la Salvia, to pay homage to a typical Ligurian food to be accompanied with meat and fish dishes;
- the Festa del Turista, a traveling festival that combines the delicacies of the territory with delicious local wines;
- the Pansoti Festival, organized in the town of Mele.
Fonte: lamialiguria.it
And finally, the excursus among the most beautiful festivals in northern Italy, can not be mentioned those organized in Emilia Romagna, among the most famous Italian regions for local cuisine:
- the Feast of San Petronio, a special occasion to pay homage to the goodness of the tortellino;
- The Patron Festival of San Luigi Gonzaga, a perfect mix of food, art and handicrafts.
Fonte: siviaggia.it
The journey has just begun: in the next episode we will discover the most famous festivals of central Italy, always looking for the most genuine and typical food of the country.
Copertina: tg24.sky