May “Sagre” in Tuscany

For those who don’t know what a “sagra” is, it’s a village festival, generally dedicated to some local product or tradition. Traditionally, these festivals took place on the Patron Saint’s day, hence the name “sagra” (sacra – sacred). Nowadays they are rarely connected with a religious festivity and have become a way to promote an area, a product or to collect money for the village activities (e.g. the local soccer team, the local pro-loco or village association, a political party, etc.).

These are some sagre that take place in Tuscany in May 2009:

• Raduno degli amanti del cinghiale (gathering of the “wild-bore-products lovers”), Strada in Chianti (Florence), May 8-10 and 15-17.
• Demetra, Capezzano Pianore (Lucca), May 22-24. Both for professionals and the general public: flower, vegetable and food sculptures.
• 29th Sagra del porcellino (porcellino means piglet), Casciana Terme (Pisa), May 22-24 and 30-31.
• Sagra del tortello (tortelli are a type of ravioli), Scarperia (Firenze), May 23-24.
• Sagra della bistecca alla fiorentina (bistecca alla fiorentina is the traditional Florentine T-bone steak), Sagginale-Borgo san Lorenzo (Florence), May 29-31, June 1-2 and 5-7.
• 40th Sagra dei pici (pici are a type of fresh pasta, sort of thick spaghetti, typical of Southern Tuscany), Celle sul Rigo-San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena), May 29-31.
• Sagra del prosciutto e baccelli (prosciutto and broad beans), Boschi di Lari (Pisa), May 14-17.
• Sagra del fungo porcino (porcino mushroom), Palazzolo di Incisa V.no (Florence), May 16-17, 22-24, 29-31, June 5-7 and 12-14. Not really a season product but if you haven’t had enough mushrooms in the Fall, you can enjoy them for the last time before the summer.
• Sagra della nozza (the nozza is a dessert typical of the area of Calcinaia), Calcinaia (Pisa), May 16-17. The women of the village make the sweets for the visitors.
• Sagra del fungo prugnolo (a type of mushroom), Firenzuola (Florence), May 23-24 and June 6-7.
• Festival della fragola (strawberry festival), Terricciola (Pisa), May 16-17, and 23-24.
• Sagra della fragola (strawberry festival), Marsiliana-Manciano (Grosseto), May 22-24 and 29-31.
• Sagra delle ciliegie (cherry festival), Lari (Pisa), May 23-24, 30-31 and June 1-2.
• Maggiolata lucignanese, Lucignano (Arezzo), May 24 and 31. Flower sculptures are carried around on carts throughout the village.
• CantaMaggio, Barberino del Mugello (Florence), May 14-17.
• Jazz e baccelli (jazz and broad beans), Certaldo (Florence), May 17.
• Festa del pane (bread festival), Certaldo (Florence), May 24.
• Classico è: otto giorni di vino e cultura (classic is: 8 days of wine and culture), Florence, May 30 – June 6.
• Festa di San Bernardino, Seggiano (Grosseto), May 20-21.
• Festa irlandese (Irish festival), Piazza del Sale, Grosseto, May 22-24.
• Sagra della Lasagna, Montenero d’Orcia (Grosseto), May 23-24.
• Sagra del Tartufo (truffle festival), Arcille (Grosseto), May 29-31.
• Festa di Sant’Ubaldo, Pisa, May 16-17. Flower festival.