41st Festa del Garagolo

The Festa del Garagolo in Santa Maria del Piano

The Festa del Garagolo is an unmissable event on Easter Monday in Santa Maria del Piano, a hamlet in the Municipality of Montescudo-Monte Colombo, in the heart of the Valconca, in the province of Rimini. Now in its 41st edition, it is one of the most established gastronomic festivals in the Rimini hinterland and attracts thousands of visitors from Romagna and the Marche region every year.

What is a garagolo

The garagolo is a small marine mollusk, a sea snail typical of the Adriatic Sea, cooked in a savory sauce according to the traditional Romagna recipe. Its introduction into the festival menu dates back to 1955, when the historic Trattoria Fabbri offered garagoli supplied by fishermen from Cattolica: from a few initial kilograms, it has grown to the current quintals served during the festival. The origins of the event, however, are rooted in a religious ceremony, the Quaranta ore (Forty Hours' Devotion), linked to the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

A day of celebration for everyone

The festival offers a rich program that enlivens the entire day. Alongside the food stalls, where you can enjoy garagoli, first courses of fish, and mixed fried fish, numerous outdoor activities take place:

• The guided trekking starting from the small square behind the church on Via Sant'Apollinare;
• The traditional motorcycle gathering, a motorcycle rally with a scenic tour of the Valconca;
• The market of crafts, antiques, and modern items;
• Mountain bike lessons for children and fitness activities for all ages;
• Live music with local bands and groups accompanying lunch and the afternoon.

A symbol of Valconca tradition

More than just a gastronomic festival, the Festa del Garagolo is a moment of community gathering for Montescudo-Monte Colombo and for the entire Emilia-Romagna region. The combination of the flavors of the Adriatic Sea and the hospitality of the hilly hinterland makes it an authentic experience, capable of uniting taste, popular tradition, and conviviality in one of the most heartfelt events of the Romagna Easter calendar.