Sagre in October

Italian Wine and Food Festivals

This month in Maremma the autumn is really beginning to show its colours and the sagre in October are dominated by the treasures of the woodland: porcini mushrooms and chestnuts. But you will also find a pumpkin or polenta dish or two as well... a guided tour of the Santa Fiora woodlands, archery demonstrations, live music, dancing and artisan crafts.

These sagre are true favourites of mine. The summer sagre catering to Maremma's many holiday viistors along her beautiful coastline have come and gone with the stifling heat.

These autumn sagre, however, reflect traditional life here in rural Maremma. An historically hard subsistence from the land and sea, supplemented by what could be gathered from the dense woodlands covering Maremma's hills.

The speciality local dishes you will find at these events are based upon simple, fresh ingredients and recipes passed though the generations that make the most of them. They taste wonderful.

October days are warm and the evenings cool (so take a jumper..): I love autumn. Have a great time.

The Italian Food Festivals and Sagre in October

1- 3 October 2010
CASTELL'AZZARA
Zucche in Festa - Pumpkin and Squash Festival

Food stalls with Tuscan recipe squash and pumpkin dishes, artist and craft stalls, music and shows.

1- 3 October 2010
CINIGNANO
41st Festa dell'Uva - 41st Grape Festival

At this Tuscany grape harvest festival you will find the towns cellars open - don't miss going down them! - and the residents of the towns three "contrade" - districts - in costume. Plus a poetry reading competition: all in all a great day out for the whole family.

1 - 3 October 2010
VALLERONA (Roccalbegna)
Feste della Madonna del Rosario - the Madonna del Rosario Festival

Three days of festivities with tournaments, street performers, games, exhibits, gastronomic food stalls, juggling shows, dancing, a costumed parade and a wheelbarrow palio!

1 - 3 and 9 - 10 October 2010
CASAL DI PARI (Civitella Paganico)
34th Sagra del Porcino - Porcini Mushroom Festival

A porcini mushroom festival in which you will find it prepared and cooked by the towns chefs in every which way possible: from the house specialities of polenta, to risotto and soup, to dipped and fried... If you love porcini, then this sagra is for you.

2 - 3, 9 - 10, 16 - 17, 23 - 24, 30 - 31 October 2010
BIVIO DI RAVI (Gavorrano)
Sagra della Polenta - Polenta Festival

Food stalls with a range of polenta based dishes as well as typical Maremmane pasta specialities such as tortelli stuffed with ricotta and spinach or pappardelle served with a meat ragu sauce.

8 - 10 October
MONTICELLO AMIATA (Cinigniano)
29th Festa della Castagna - 29th Chestnut Festival

A long gastronomic weekend dedicated to the chestnut, with typical Maremman products and food stalls, plus the opportunity to see take a guided walk and view live the ancient crafts of collection and chestnut processing, or a trek through the Riserva Naturale di Poggio all'Olmo. Shows, concerts, markets and dancing in the evenings AND the towns wine cellars are open for the event.

9 - 10 and 16 - 17 October 2010
BAGNOLO (Santa Fiora)
37th Sagra del Fungo Amiatino - 37th Festival of the Porcino Mushroom from Amiata

Taste porcini recipe dishes and others typical of the Amiata area in Maremma, with food stalls open for both lunch and dinner on the Saturdays of the 9th and 10th of October and the Sunday of 10th October, but only for lunch on Sunday 17th October.

10, 17 and 24 October 2010
MONTIERI
Sagra della Castagna - Chestnut Festival

Roasted chestnuts and local dishes in the metalliferous hills of Maremma.

15 - 17 October 2010
CANA (Roccalbegna)
Festa della Biondina - literally translated this means Festival of the Blond, but is actually a Chestnut festival

Another weekend in Maremma dedicated to the chestnut, but at this one you will also find tournaments and archery demonstrations as well as entertainment for both young and old, concerts in the square and dancing in the cellars.

15 - 17, 22 - 24 and 30 - 31 October 2010
ARCIDOSSO
24th La Castagna in Festa - 24th Festival of the Chestnut

Gastronomic stands, tasting of chestnut dishes and other local products based upon this woodland produce, inlcuding chestnut beer! There are also guided tours of the chestnut woodlands, ancient crafts, and shows within the castle and historic medieval centre... concerts, antique markets and raffles.

28 October - 1 November 2010
ORBETELLO
Gustatus - Il Senso del Gusto. Profumi e sapori della tradizione contadina e lagunare
Gustatus - The sense of taste. Aromas and flavours of the rural tradition and lagoon

This is the third "Gustatus" which celebrates the culture and gastronomy of life around the lagoon at Orbetello. A different food event from the woodland produce sagre and well worth attending for a perspective of Maremman life along her coast.

30 - 31 October 2010
SANTA FIORA
7th Sagra del Marrone Santafiorese - 7th Festival of the Santa Fiora Chestnuts

Visit the Santa Fiora woods where the woodlands have been managed and chestnuts gathered for centuries and then return for some wonderful plates of home-cooked food.

30 October - 1 November 2010
PIANCASTAGNAIO
Crastatone

The historic center of Piancastagnaio dressed for the autumn will play host to its visitors with artisan and art shows, local typical gastronomic dishes and the celebration of the last of the gathering of chestnuts for 2010.

30 October - 1 November 2010
SASSOFORTINO (Roccastrada)
Festa della Castagna - Festival of the Chestnut

A gastronomic event with foods based upon the chestnut, shows and the towns wine cellars open for visits.

31 October 2010
ISOLA DEL GIGLIO
Festa della Castagna - Festival of the Chestnut

This chestnut festival is held within Giglio Castello - the castle - on this beautiful island.

31 Ocober 2010
MONTEROTONDO MARITTIMO
Festa della Castagna - Festival of the Chestnut

An autumn festival with roast chestnuts and chestnut desserts, music and dancing.

The photograph above of porcini mushrooms is by kind permission of Giancarlo Gabbrielli