Looking for a Sagra in Italy

Monday September 8, 2008

Sign for Sagra delle Anguille in Tuscany

Driving to our house in northern Tuscany, we watch for sagra signs like the one in the photo. Every weekend from late spring through fall, there are several sagre from which to choose. Yesterday there was a fish sagra and a capra (goat) and polenta sagra within a few kilometers of us. (See sagra definition)

These festivals, centered around local food, are common in small towns and villages throughout Italy and are a good way to try local foods. They're definitely not set up just for tourists; here you’ll find families, couples, teenagers, and elderly people all enjoying dinner together. Food and wine are reasonably priced and sometimes there's music, too. Going to a sagra is one of my favorite things to do in Italy.