In the name of food! Food Festivals in Tuscany

Tortelli pasta with meat sauce

If you’re planning to visit Tuscany and you want to better understand local culture, have delicious and authentic food for a reasonable price, buy local products and maybe enjoy shows, concerts or dance, then you must go to a Food festival or“Sagra”.

The origin of these festivals comes from ancient Rome. In fact, “Sagra” comes from the Latin “sacrum”, or “sacred”. During the feasts of antiquity local products were offered and then consumed by the entire community. This symbolic ritual remains today in the various food festivals that revolve around a local product or dish. Over time, festivals became more and more important because families gathered together all members of the community and felt united.

Today you can find Sagre mostly outside of the big cities. Many of them have also performing musicians and street artists as well as plenty of attractions for children. Most of the food festivals are outside the tourist circuit, so you’ll need to gather necessary information about public transport or rent a car. Be ready to speak Italian, ready to revel, and prepare yourself to eat way too much!