You have just arrived at a countryside town and you have seen street posters talking about a well-known “sagra” that is about to start, but you really don't know what it is about. How can you take part to it? Will it be a good place to taste some local specialties? What to expect from an event of this kind?
Don't worry: we can help you! Here's a short guide to give answers to all your questions about the popular town "sagre"!
First of all, what's a sagra?
A sagra is a kind of festival organized by hundreds of Italian towns to celebrate a Saint Patron and, more generally, the seasonal local food products. On this occasion, the inhabitants of the town and the surrounding centres gather to spend some pleasant evenings together, eating good food and watching nice live shows with some music. It definitely isn't an elegant atmosphere, but it really has something magical in it! People of all ages sit side by side and socialize in front of some delicious dishes. Usually, each sagra is dedicated to a regional product or recipe which becomes the night's protagonits. However, there is a large choice of dishes in the menu and nobody ever gets disappointed! The cost of the dinner is relativiley low, so it might be an excellent experience to try some new Italian products for cheap!
Where will we sit?
This kind of food festivals are distinguished by long laid tables accompanied by plastic charis or wooden benches. In summer, you will enjoy a nice supper under a starry sky getting the most out of the good weather, while in colder months the event is often organized inside large tents or comfortable indoor halls.
How do orders work?
Usually, you'll be invited to wait in line to pay at the cashier, where you will have to choose all the dishes you want to try and pay them. You will then receive two numbered tickets, one of which will have to be given to your waiter once you have found a free table. Enjoy your meal and relax!
And what happens after the dinner?
Each sagra is different, but almost all offer a sort of entertainment once everybody has finished eating. You will plunge into a live music concert, a dance competition, a regional dances' show or a disco party with colourful lights and a lot of music to dance all night long! The most traditional events also propose a so-called “pesca di beneficienza”: don't forget to take part to it and discover how it works! Well... you will surely not get bored!
Who organizes these sagras?
The sagra is a special moment that sees the incredible participation of the whole village, which collaborates and works hard to get the best result! The volunteers are persons of all ages and they have different fucntions in the organization. Children and kids work as waiters at the tables, men cook the meat over the barbecue and think about the wine, while women prepare the other dishes in the kitchen. It's a teamwork that gets out the soul of the entire community!
Which are the most famous and beautiful sagras to see?
This is not an easy question. Each region presents unique sagras where you'll be able to taste some excellent food specialties and you'll spend a good time having fun. However, if we have to choose the best-known ones, we cannot forget to mention "Primi d’Italia" festival in Foligno (PG), Perugia's Eurochocolate, both happening in October, or Truffle's Festival in San Miniato (PI), taking place in November.
Start planning your trip to discover all about Italian regional traditions! We suggest booking one of our villas in Tuscany and Umbria, where countless of food events are organized each year!
© Alice Pilastri
