If you’re in Italy in October, you won’t want to miss the many local food fairs held around the country. Here are some of the best to visit over the coming month.
One of the most common autumn activities in Italy is attending a sagra – a type of harvest festival or fair usually celebrating a typical local ingredient or recipe.
These festivals could last for just a day or up to several weeks and could consist of anything from raucous parties with music and dancing to more relaxed tasting experiences amid food stalls. They’re usually held in a field or a piazza (square), and entry is free.
What all sagre have in common is the focus on eating and drinking fresh local produce, and the assurance that you won’t leave unsated.
October has the most food festivals by far, it being harvest season. These are just some of the fests taking place across the country in the coming weeks.
Abruzzo
Sagra delle Castagne (chestnut festival), the last weekend of October (the 31st and November 1st) in Sante Marie, L’Aquila.
Campania
Sagra del Cinghiale (wild boar festival), every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until November 1st in Dugenta, Benevento.
Sagra della Castagna IGP e del Fungo Porcino (chestnut and porcini mushroom festival), every Saturday and Sunday from October 3rd to November 1st in Roccamonfina, Caserta.
Sagra del Nero di Bagnoli (black truffle festival), the last two weekends of October in Bagnoli Irpino, Avellino.
Emilia Romagna
Sagra del Vino Romagnolo (Romagna’s wine festival), October 1st-4th in Cotignola, Ravenna.
Sagra dell’Anguilla (eel festival), first two weekends of the month (3rd-4th and 10th-11th) in Comacchio, Ferrara.
Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo di Fragno (Fragno black truffle fair), every Sunday from October 18th to November 8th in Calestano, Parma.
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sagra del Pan-Zal (pumpkin focaccia festival), October 15th-25th in San Vito al Tagliamento, Pordenone.
Lazio
Sagra delle Tacchie ai Funghi Porcini (‘tacchie’ pasta and porcini mushroom festival), first two weekends of October (including Fridays) in Bellegra, Rome.
Sagra del Tartufo (truffle festival), the second and third weekends of October (10th-11th and 17th-18th) in Canterano, Rome.
Sagra della Castagna (chestnut festival), first three weekends of October (1st-4th, 8th-11th, and 13th-18th) in Vallerano, Viterbo.
Liguria
Festa d’Autunno (autumn festival mainly for castagne, chestnuts) October 18th in Calizzano, Savona.
Festa Nazionale del Tartufo (truffle festival) the first weekend of October (2nd-4th) in Millesimo, Savona.
Lombardy
Festival della Mostarda (mustard festival), October 9th-November 22nd in Cremona.
Fasulin de l’Oc con le Cudeghe (beans and pork rind festival), the last weekend of the month (October 30th and 31st, and November 1st) and the first weekend of November (7th-8th) in Pizzighettone, Cremona.
Sagra della Polenta Taragna (Taragna polenta festival), the last two weekends of October (23rd-25th and 30th-31st and November 1st) and the first weekend of November (6th-8th) in Spirano, Bergamo.
Piedmont
Cioccolato nel Monferrato (chocolate festival), October 18th in Altavilla Monferrato, Alessandria.
Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba (white truffle fair), every weekend from October 10th to December 6th in Alba, Cuneo.
Puglia
Sagra del Calzone (calzone festival), the third weekend of October (16th-18th) in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari.
Sicily
Funghi Fest (mushroom festival), October 23rd-25th in Castelbuono, Palermo.
Ottobrata Zafferanese (local food festival with four days separately dedicated to grapes, honey, apples, and mushrooms and chestnuts), every Sunday in October in Zafferana Etnea, Catania.
Sagra della Mostarda e del Fico d’India (mustard and prickly pear festival), second and third weekends of October (including Fridays) in Militello in Val di Catania.
Trentino Alto Adige
Festa del Radicchio di Bieno (Bieno radicchio festival), October 4th in Bieno, Trento.
Tuscany
Festa dell’Uva (grape festival), the first weekend of the month (October 2nd-4th) in Cinigiano, Grosseto.
Boccaccesca (local food festival), October 8th-11th in Certaldo, Florence.
Umbria
Sagra del Sedano Nero e della Salsiccia (black celery and sausage festival), the third weekend of October (17th-19th) in Trevi, Perugia.
Veneto
Festa del Baccalà (cod festival), October 2nd-5th in Montegalda, Vicenza.
Mele a Mel (apple festival), the second weekend of October (9th-11th) in Mel, Belluno.
This list is not exhaustive. Did we miss your favourite October sagra? Leave a comment below to let us know.
Dining and Cooking