Maremma Sagre in April

Italian Wine and Food Festivals

These sagre in April - wine and food festivals in Maremma in Tuscany and Lazio - mark both the beginning of spring and the annual sagre season.

You will need to take your chances with the weather! but if you are visiting Maremma during April don't let a shower or thunderstorm deter you from experiencing a sagra. Go prepared, and you will experience the wonderful taste of traditional local Maremma food and great company in a unique environment. There is even a real live Maremman cowboy show! Enjoy!

The Festivals and Sagre in April

5 April 2010
SAN MARTINO SUL FIORA, MANCIANO (Grosseto)
43rd Sagra dell'agnello - Festival of the Lamb

A gastronomic celebration on the day after "Pasqua" (Easter), with traditional local characteristic dishes of food based upon lamb and cooked in every way possible! Music and shows.

14, 25 and 30 April 2010 (and 1 & 2 May 2010)
RIOTORTO (Piombino)
41st Sagra del Carciofo - Festival of Artichokes

One of the carciofo festivals in Tuscany. Taste dishes made with the "carciofo violetto" - a species of violet artichoke grown in Maremma, along with other culinary specialities of the area. This sagra is also well known for its live music and dancing. The restaurants open at 12:00 noon and 19:00 over the weekend and at 19:00 on weekdays. Location: the Parco Comunale di Riotorto - called "La Pineta".

19 - 25 April 2010
CASTIGLIONCELLO (Livorno)
Settimana della tipicità livornese in cucina - A typical week in a Livornese Kitchen

This isn't a sagra, but worth a mention as this food and wine event offers the opportunity to taste all of the dishes typical of the Livornese kitchen using the simplest of ingredients. Open every evening and on Sunday for lunch, but booking is essential.

Location: the Tennis club Castiglioncello at Pineta Marradi, 7. Tel: +39 0586 751064

24 - 25 & 29 - 30 April and 1 - 2 May 2010
ALBERESE (Grosseto)
Sagra di Primavera - Spring Food Festival

A gastronomic event to celebrate spring held in the "Campo Sportivo" (sports ground) in Alberese. And on the May dates, each afternoon there is a programme of Maremma cowboy - "i butteri" events. Well worth a visit.

25 April 2010
PERETA, MAGLIANO IN TOSCANA (Grosseto)
Sagra del Lunghino

A gastronomic event as part of the festival of the saint San Marco, with processions, music and dancing in the evenings.

30 April 2010 (and 1 & 2 May 2010)
PIAN DI ROCCA, CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA (Grosseto)
Festa di Primavera - Spring Festival

A three day event celebrating the local traditional agricultural production of fruits and vegetables, particularly the violet artichokes grown in the fileds around the village and "baccelli" - broad beans. Lunch and dinner is available from food stands offering typical local cuisine.

Activities during the day include organised walks with dogs in the surrounding Bandite di Scarlino countryside, horse carriages, ponies and a treasure hunt for children. Plus a motorcycle rally, cowboy show, dog shoe and races...

End of April (and beginning of May) 2010
ARCILLE (Campagnatico)
Sagra della fava, del baccalà e del la frittura di pesce - Festival of broad beans, cod and fried fish

This gastronomic event starts the season of "sagre paesane" - sagre in the Pisa region. Typical dishes include broad beans with pecorino cheese (a combination I can highly recommend if you have never tried it) and "zuppa di fave" - broad bean soup, plus other typical local produce.

Buon appetito!