One of the best things about visiting Italy in the autumn months is having the opportunity to attend a sagra, a type of harvest festival or fair centred around one particular food or drink item local to the town hosting it.
A sagra has a fairly broad definition: it could last for several weeks or one day, and might consist of anything from raucous celebrations with music and dancing to more relaxed tasting experiences amid food stalls and wooden benches. It will usually be 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.
As October is by far the month with the most sagre, here are some of the best events taking place across the country in the coming weeks.
Campania
Sagra del Cinghiale (wild boar festival), every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until November 2nd in Dugenta, Benevento.
Sagra del Nero di Bagnoli (black truffle festival), The last two weekends in October: 11th-19th, and 24th-26th, in Bagnoli Irpino, Avellino.
Emilia Romagna
Sagra della Salamina da Sugo (salami festival), October 2nd-5th in Poggio Renatico, Ferrara.
Sagra del Vino Romagnolo (Romagna's wine festival), October 3rd-6th in Cotignola, Ravenna.
Sagra dell'Anguilla (eel festival), first two weekends of the month in Comacchio, Ferrara.
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sagra del Pan-Zal (pumpkin focaccia festival), October 17th-27th in San Vito al Tagliamento, Pordenone.
Lazio
Sagra delle Tacchie ai Funghi Porcini ('tacchie' pasta and porcini mushroom festival), October 3rd-12th in Bellegra, Rome.
Sagra del Tartufo (truffle festival), October 11th-12th, 18th-19th in Canterano, Rome.
Sagra della Castagna (chestnut festival), October 12th-November 3rd in Vallerano, Viterbo.
Lombardy
Festival della Mostarda (mustard festival), October 4th-November 17th in Cremona.
Fasulin de l'Oc con le Cudeghe (beans and pork rind festival), October 31st and the first two weekends of November in Pizzighettone, Cremona.
Sagra della Polenta Taragna (Taragna polenta festival), October 25th-27th, November 1st-3rd, 8th-10th in Spirano, Bergamo.
Marche
Castagnata in Piazza (chestnut festival), October 19th-20th in Montefiore dell'Aso, Ascoli Piceno.
Piedmont
Cioccolato nel Monferrato (chocolate festival), October 20th in Altavilla Monferrato, Alessandria.
Puglia
Sagra del Calzone di cipolla (onion calzone festival), 17th-19th October in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari.
Sicily
Funghi Fest (mushroom festival), October 25th-27th in Castelbuono, Palermo.
Ottobrata Zafferanese (local food festival) October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th in Zafferana Etnea, Catania.
Trentino Alto Adige
Festa del Radicchio di Bieno (Bieno radicchio festival), October 6th in Bieno, Trento.
Tuscany
Festa dell'Uva (grape festival), October 4th-6th in Cinigiano, Grosseto.
Sagra del Fungo Amiatino (Amiatino mushroom festival), October 12th-13th, 19th-20th in Bagnolo, Grosseto.
Boccaccesca (local food festival), October 10th-13th in Certaldo, Florence.
Umbria
Sagra del Sedano Nero e della Salsiccia (black celery and sausage festival), October 19th-20th in Trevi, Perugia.
Veneto
Festa del Baccalà (cod festival), October 6th-9th in Montegalda, Vicenza.
Mele a Mel (apple festival), October 11th-13th in Mel, Belluno.
This list is not exhaustive. Did we miss out your favourite October sagra? Leave a comment below to let us know.
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