Alberone Cotechino Festival (winter edition)

A Tradition Over a Century Old

The Alberone Cotechino Festival is one of the most beloved gastronomic festivals in the Bassa ferrarese. It takes place in the hamlet of Alberone di Cento, in the Municipality of Cento, in the province of Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna), and its winter edition is known by all as the 6 Days of Cotechino: six evenings spread over two weekends in February, all dedicated to the iconic cured meat of Padan cuisine.

The origin of the festival dates back to the early 1900s, when cotechino was served to customers of an old village inn. From that custom, an event was born that today boasts over a century of history and attracts gourmets from all over Emilia and the nearby Modena plain every year.

Alberone's Cotechino and the Guinness Record

Alberone has entered gastronomic legend for producing the world's largest cotechino: an item 137.50 meters long and weighing a hefty 485 kilograms, an achievement that earned it recognition in the Guinness Book of Records. Cotechino, according to tradition, was born in Mirandola in 1515 during the siege of Pope Julius II, and in Alberone it is prepared following recipes passed down through generations.

Dine Under the Tent

The heart of the festival is the covered and heated gastronomic stand at the Alberonese Sports Center, on Via Rossini. Here you can enjoy house appetizers (polenta, mariconda, gnocco with cured meats), traditional first courses (tortellini, garganelli, pumpkin tortelloni, cotechino lasagna), and of course, the main stars: the typical cotechino and the salamina da sugo, accompanied by grilled meats, roasts, and homemade desserts.

When to Go

The winter edition is held over two weekends in February. Weekday evenings open at 7:00 PM, while Sundays offer lunch starting at 12:00 PM. Reservations are recommended, especially on days with higher attendance.

Alberone also hosts a second edition of the festival in late summer (between late August and early September): the winter version, however, has its own unique charm, with the conviviality of the heated tents providing a counterpoint to the cold of the Bassa.