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Sagra: The best Italian food festivals to visit in November

Harvest season may be coming to an end, but Italy's 'sagre' food fairs are still going strong. You'll have the opportunity to visit some of the country's best local harvest festivals if you come to Italy in November.

Published: 6 November 2023 16:29 CET
Here are some of the food and wine festivals to look forward to in Italy this month.
Here are some of the fairs to look forward to in Italy this month. Photo by Alfonso Scarpa on Unsplash

One of the best things about visiting Italy in the autumn 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 can last for several weeks or one day, and consists of anything from raucous celebrations with music and dancing to more relaxed tasting experiences amid food stalls and wooden benches. It will usually be hosted in a field or a piazza (square), and entry is free.

While October is the month with the most sagra, they typically continue well into November. Chestnuts, truffles, wine, olive oil and polenta are just some of the products being offered in villages and towns across the country this month.

Abruzzo

Festa dell’Olio Nuovo (olive oil festival), November 10th-12th in Frisa. 

Calabria

Sagra della Castagna (chestnuts festival), November 11th-13th in Sant’Agata di Esaro.

READ ALSO: Seven reasons autumn is the best time to visit Italy

Campania

La Sagra delle Sagre (local products and culture festival), 10th-12th in Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi.

Sagra della Castagna e dei Prodotti del Sottobosco (chestnuts festival), November 11th-12th in Acerno.

Pzzett e Vin Cuott (sweetened desserts festival), November 11th-13th in Scisciano.

Funghi porcini mushrooms grow in many areas of Italy during the autumn. Photo by Tamara Malaniy on Unsplash

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Estate di San Martino (local products fair), November 10th-12th in Villanova.

Lazio

Festa dell’Olio e del Vino Novello (olive oil and wine festival), November 10th-12th and 17th-19th in Vignanello.

Sagra della Polenta (polenta festival), November 11th-12th in Nerola.

Il Giorno di Bacco (wine festival), November 19th in Palombara Sabina.

Emilia Romagna

Novemberfest (grilled meats and beer festival), November 10th-11th and 17th-18th in Bevilacqua.

Fiera dell’Oliva e dei Prodotti Autunnali (olives and autumnal products festival), November 19th and 26th in Coriano.

Cioccolandia (chocolate festival), November 11th-12th in Piacenza.

Fiera del Formaggio di Fossa (cheese festival), November 19th and 26th in Sogliano al Rubicone.

Chestnuts can be widely found in Italy during the autumn. Photo by Federico Panaiotti on Unsplash

Lombardy

Sapori d’Autunno (autumn flavours festival), November 10th-12th and 17th-19th, Comazzo.

Festa del Torrone (nougat festival), November 11th-19th in Cremona.

Formaggi in Piazza (cheese festival), November 18th-19th in Sondrio.

Marche

Festa della Cicerchia (legumes fair), November 24th-26th in Serra de’ Conti.

Piedmont

Fiera Internazionale Tartufo Bianco d’Alba (international white truffle fair), until December 3rd in Alba.

Acqui e Sapori (truffle market), November 24th-26th in Acqui Terme.

Puglia

Sagra del Fungo Cardoncello (cardoncello mushroom festival), November 11th-12th in Ruvo di Puglia.

A number of harvest food festivals will take place across Italy this weekend.

A man sniffs a truffle at the International White Truffle Festival in Alba. Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP.

Sicily

Sagra dell’Ulivo (olives festival), November 11th-12th in Pollina.

Sagra della Cassatella (sweet fried pastry fair), November 17th-19th in Agira.

Un Giorno di Pecora (lamb and mutton fair), November 19th in Santa Ninfa.

Trentino Alto Adige

Festa della Noce (walnut festival), November 10th-12th in Cavrasto.

Tuscany

Autumnia (autumn foods festival), November 10th-12th in Figline Valdarno.

Sagra del Porcino (porcini mushroom festival), November 9th-11th in Lucignano.

Sagra del Cinghiale (wild boar festival), November 9th-12th and 16th-19th in Chianni.

Veneto

Festa del Baccalà (salted cod festival), November 10th-12th and 17th-19th in Borgoricco.

Sagra del Frico (cheese crisp fair), November 11th-12th, 18th-19th, 25th-26th in Lorenzaga.

This list is not exhaustive. Did we miss out your favourite November sagra? Leave a comment below to let us know.

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ROME

The best things to do in Rome in May 2024

Whether you're a Rome resident or just passing through, the Eternal City has plenty to offer throughout the month of May.

Published: 30 April 2024 15:45 CEST
The best things to do in Rome in May 2024

Circo Massimo Concertone – May 1st

Rome’s traditional Labour Day Concertone (‘big concert’) this year moves from its usual location in San Giovanni to Circo Massimo. Noemi and Ermal Meta are hosting the 2024 edition; entry is free.

Conca d’Oro street food festival – May 1st-5th

Ushering in the start of May, the Conca d’Oro neighbourhood is playing host to a five-day-long street food fair. 25 chefs will be present in the parking lot where this year’s festival is taking place.

Charity Cafe Jazz and Blues concerts – May 1st-4th

This intimate jazz cafe in the Monti district is hosting nightly Jazz and Blues concerts from 10pm from May 1st-4th. As of April 30th, the venue’s events calendar hasn’t been updated for May, but there’s typically something every Tuesday-Saturday.

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Italy in May 2024

Photography exhibits – Various dates

At the Museum of Rome in Trastevere you can catch a series of photography exhibitions in May. A retrospective of the works of German street photographer Hilde Lotz-Bauer closes on May 5th; 100 works by the Spanish artist and photographer Ouka Leele will remain on display throughout the month; and a retrospective of Cameroonian photographer Angèle Etoundi Essamba will open on May 17th.

Free museum Sundays – May 5th

As usual, Rome will be opens most of its museums and cultural sites to the public for free on the first Sunday of the month. That includes the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, Galleria Borghese, Castel Sant’Angelo, and many more (full list here).

Rome’s Borghese Gallery is one of the sites open for free on the first Sunday of the month. Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP.

Incanti illusionist show – May 2nd-5th

Following a stop in Grosseto, the Incanti (‘enchantments’) show of illusions comes to Rome’s Teatro Olimpico for four days before moving on to Florence.

Swan Lake orchestral concert – May 2nd-4th

The Santa Cecilia National Academy orchestra is putting on a performance of Prokofiev’s second piano concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake suite at Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica from May 2nd-4th.

READ ALSO: Nine of the best events to attend in Italy in spring 2024

Baby Sound – May 4th-5th

Also in conjunction with performers from the Santa Cecilia National Academy, Baby Sound, a musical workshop for young children aged 0-2, will take place at Auditorium Parco della Musica from May 4th-5th.

Internazionali d’Italia tournament – May 6th-19th

The 2024 edition of the Internazionali d’Italia – Italy’s most prestigious tennis tournament – will unfold at Rome’s Foro Italico sports venue from Monday, May 6th to Sunday, May 19th, with Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner set to take part in the contest.

World Press Photo Exhibition – May 9th onwards

The 2024 World Press Photo Exhibition opens at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni on May 9th and is set to run for one month until June 9th.

Arrosticini festival – May 9th-12th

The ex-Mattatoio events and exhibition space in Testaccio is preparing to serve up lamb/mutton arrosticini skewers and other traditional Abruzzese fare over the course of four days from May 9th-12th.

READ ALSO: Eight unmistakable signs that spring has arrived in Italy

Fava bean and pecorino fair – May 12th

Fava beans and pecorino cheese, a traditional Roman combo, are on the menu in the town of Filacciano, an hour’s journey outside the city, on this May 12th food festival.

Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre fundraising dinner – May 24th

After a long hiatus, Rome’s Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre is starting up its fundraising dinners again on May 24th. This one features Syrian and Palestinian food supplied by Hummustown, and costs €30 (discounted rate €20).

ARF! comics fair – May 24th-26th

Another event taking place at the ex-Mattatoio in Testaccio in May is the ARF! comics festival, three days of exhibitions, talks, and workshops, including a kids’ corner.

It’s set to coincide with the Street Sud Festival featuring southern Italian street food, which is also scheduled to take place at the Mattatioio from May 23rd-26th.

Japan Days – May 25th-26th

Prati’s bus depot plays host to this Japanese market, where you can expect to find 100 exhibitors selling items from kimonos to kokeshi dolls, along with talks and presentations bonsai workshops and an abundance of Japanese food.

Recurring events

Campagna Amica sells locally grown fresh produce every Saturday and Sunday on Via di San Teodoro 74.

The Porta Portese flea market, which takes place every Sunday, is one of the largest (and busiest) the city has to offer.

Performances Verdi’s La Traviata, The Three Tenors, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Bach’s masterpieces continue to be held on various dates at St Pauls Within the Walls throughout the month of May.

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