Maremma Sagre in May

Wine and Food Festivals

Maremma Sagre in May are a combination of the celebration of typical local cuisine based on the local produce in season for this month, and that of a wider celebration of the season of Spring.

At most of the sagre events listed here, as well as great food for either lunch and dinner, or both, you will also find food stalls, music, dancing and a variety of competitions or shows from jeeps to dogs!

The Festivals and Sagre in May

1 & 7 - 8 May 2011
RIOTORTO (Piombino)
42nd Sagra del Carciofo - 42nd Festival of Artichokes

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".

7 - 8 May 2011
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.

May 2011
GIGLIO CASTELLO (Isola del Giglio)
V Festa della fava e del pecorino - the 5th Festival of the broad bean and pecorino (sheeps) cheese

A gastronomic show held in the castle of Giglio - "La Rocca".

May 2011
PORTO ERCOLE (Grosseto)
Festa del Cinghiale - Wild Boar Festival

Held in the San Lorenzo sports ground at this sagra you will be able to choose from a range of game based typical dishes with local wines.

7- 8 May 2011
POGGIOFERRO (Scansano)
41st Sagra del Tortello - the 41st festival of the Tortelli pasta

Held from every second Sunday of May each year, this is a two day gastronomic event where it is possible to taste classic hand-made tortelli pasta as well as local salted biscuits with the local Morellino di Scansano wine. Shows, dancing, folk music, street artists, an artisan market and more...
Open for both lunch and dinner.

7- 8 May 2011
SAN VINCENZO (Livorno)
"La palamita e... San Vincenzo"

A gastronomic event with food stalls and tastings of fish dishes and typical local products.

7 - 8 May 2011
MONTIERI (Grosseto)
Festa del Prugnolo - Festival of the blackthorn mushroom

Dinner on Saturday from traditional recipes based on the blackthorn mushroom. On Sunday from 09:00 there are two markets selling typical local and artisan products. Lunch of traditional prugnoli recipes, maremmana folklore music at 16:00 and then more mushroom dishes for "la cena" (dinner).

20 - 29 May 2011
MONTENERO D'ORCIA (Castel del Piano, Grosseto)
Sagra della Lasagna - Festival of the lasagna

This sagra is part of the festival of the San Servilio and culminates on the 29 May with the Palio ‘PINTATA DEL ROTOLO' (starting at 18:30), dinner in the park, orchestral music and dancing and a firework display. Each evening there are food stands, a pizzeria and a wine bar serving the Montecucco DOC wines.

20 - 22 & 27 - 29 May 2011
MARSILIANA (Manciano)
37 Sagra della Fragola - the 36th Festival of the Strawberry

Held in the main piazza with gastronomic stands, music, dancing and a dog show. Every evening and also for lunch on the 22nd, 28th and 29th of May. The weekend of 28 and 29 May also has an exhibition of local farm products.

21 - 22 May 2011
CETONA (Siena)
4th Sagra dei pastrignocchi e del Cuculo - the 4th Festival of a typical pasta and ancient biscuit

Lunch, and dinner with dancing, in the sports ground at Cetona.

27 May 2011
GIGLIO PORTO (Isola del Giglio)
Sagra "Antichi sapori di mare a spasso tra i rioni" - Festival of old flavours of the sea and a walk through the neighbourhoods

A gastronomic show in the port.

27 - 29 May 2011 (and the every Fri, Sat and Sun in June)
ROSELLE (Grosseto)
33rd Sagra del Tortello Maremmano - 33rd Festival of the Maremma tortello pasta

Gastronomic stands as well as sports events and dancing.

27 - 29 May 2011
CELLE SUL RIGO (San Casciano dei Bagni, Siena)
42nd Sagra dei Pici - 42nd Festival of the pici type of pasta

This sagra dei pici is the oldest celebration of the Comune of San Casciano dei Bagni and is held in the historic centre of Celle sul Rigo. The pici pasta is the characteristic "primi piatto" - first course - of Celle and is made by hand following an ancient recipe by the women of the town.

More Sagre in May in Maremma

I am waiting for the confirmation of the 2011 dates for the following sagra and will update this page as soon as I have them.

CASA MORA, CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA (Grosseto)
Sagra della zuppa di Pesce - Festival of fish soup

Also offering other Maremmane specialties, from 19:00 each evening with an orchestra and dancing.

Sagre in May: Mangia bene! Eat well!