A Sunday Going for Polenta

A Sunday (and a Saturday) dedicated to Marche polenta

In Arcevia, in the province of Ancona, winter has the warm and enveloping flavor of polenta. A Sunday Going for Polenta is the food and wine review that every year, between February and March, transforms the weekends of this Marche village into a journey of taste dedicated to a rare and precious product: Arcevia's Ottofile Corn. The 2026 edition marks an important milestone, the event's twentieth anniversary.

Ottofile Corn, a treasure saved from extinction

The absolute star is Ottofile Corn, an ancient variety of corn grown on the hills of Roccacontrada (the ancient name of Arcevia), so called because the cob has eight rows of kernels. Almost extinct, it was recovered and preserved over the years thanks to the work of the guardian farmer Marino Montalbini, who preserved its continuity and quality by promoting it in Italy and abroad. Its flour, stone-ground using artisanal methods, produces a polenta with a distinct aroma and a strong yet balanced taste, slowly cooked in the cauldron.

Restaurants and traditional menus

The heart of the review is the network of about ten restaurants spread throughout the municipal area of Arcevia. Each participating venue offers its own menu based on Ottofile Corn polenta, seasoned with traditional Marche sauces, offering visitors different interpretations of the same product. In the 2026 edition, for the first time, the menus are served on both Saturday and Sunday lunch, expanding participation opportunities.

Among Arcevia's nine castles

The event is not just about food. The Pro Loco Arcevia organizes free guided tours to discover the historic center and the famous nine medieval castles of the municipality, including jewels like the Collegiate Church of San Medardo. The program is enriched with theatrical performances, cultural initiatives, and local product markets, for an experience that blends gastronomy, history, and the landscape of the Marche hinterland.

A twenty-year history

Born in 2006 on the initiative of Alfiero Verdini and the Accademia Misena, with the aim of rediscovering and enhancing this local agricultural heritage, the review has grown to become a benchmark event for Marche's food and wine scene, attracting over ten thousand visitors. The 2026 edition is dedicated to the memory of its founder, who recently passed away.