Le Sagre – le belle Feste – Italy´s local fairs
One of the best ways to get to know Italian local life and the Italians beyond stereotypes is to attend the uncountable fairs and festivals that take place all over Italy. Generally spoken they are feast for the eyes and the taste buds; most of them feature processions in historical and colourful costumes, all of them are dedicated to some locally grown food or specality – olive oil or wine, onion, truffels, wild boar, sunflowers, and are an excellent opportunity to taste and purchase the regional products and chat with the other visitors.
Some sagre we can highly recommend in the area around Montone and L’ARIETE:
In Montone:
La Donazione della Santa Spina – Easter, 15th of August
medieval festival with religious background – view the photogallery 2011
Festa del Bosco – first weekend of November
White Truffels, wild boar sausages, black truffels, ancient fruits like Corbezzoli and Giuggiole, new wine and olive oil – this very traditional festiva takes place for the 29th time in Montone, this year from Oct. 29th to Nov. 1st. This is a local event where families re-unite, but it´s definitely more than that; people come from all over Italy (and some from abroad as well). Enjoy the food prepared by the quarters of the village, and served in old cellars and outside on the terazza, taste the local products offered and just be part of the 3 days party! View a photogallery from the Festa del Bosco 2010
Recommended Sagre in Umbria:
15. May | La Corsa dei Ceri, Gubbio: One of the weirdest things to see in Italy. Competition with religious character and ancient roots – representatives from the 4 quarters of Gubbio carry a 300 kg heavy, 5m highwooden sculpture up the mountain in the back of the city. This was the Corsa dei Ceri 2011
May | Festa delle Cantine aperte, all Umbria: 44 wineries in Umbria (from Lago Trasimeno to Perugia, Torgiano, Assisi and Montefalco) open their cellars and offer tastings.
June | Mercato delle Gaite, Bevagna: For more than a week the pittoresque village turns into a medieval city and market-place – accompanied by local dishes
June | Infiorata di San Luigi Gonzaga, Citta della Pieve: The city streets transform into flower-carpets. Amazing feast for the eyes – and yes, again, excellent local food!
July | Palio delle Barche in Passignano sul Trasimeno: Hoistorical boat-race. Suspense and pleasure – make for a perfect day on the Lago.
September | Enologica Montefalco: an amazing annual tasting event presenting wines specifically of the area around Montefalco/Bevagna. Not to be missed!
October |Sagra delle Castagne in Preggio: Village families ofer home-made products and specialities – game, chestnuts, mushrooms, accompanied by the new wine, the Novello
End of November, December | Frantoi aperti, all Umbria: on six consecutive weekends oil mills open their doors and you have the chance to get guided tours, taste and buy the new oil!