Alpine Bean Festival

The Alpini bean feast in Mottalciata

Every winter, in the heart of the Biella region, the Mottalciata Alpini group fires up its pots for the Alpine Bean Festival, a highly anticipated event that brings the town together around one of the most beloved dishes of the Piedmontese tradition. The event takes place at the Alpini headquarters, the building that the Municipality of Mottalciata granted to the group and which has served as the local Alpini meeting point since 2008.

A signature dish of the Piedmontese Carnival

The bean feast has deep roots in northern Piedmont, spanning the Biella, Vercelli, and Canavese areas, where it is the quintessential convivial dish of the Carnival season. The recipe has remained largely unchanged over time: beans (often the prized Saluggia variety), onions, lard, and salami, slow-cooked in large pots until they become a rich and fragrant meal. In Mottalciata, the Alpini are the guardians of this tradition, preparing portions for the guests who gather at their headquarters.

The Alpini of Mottalciata

The Mottalciata Alpini Group, founded in 1957 and part of the ANA Biella Section, is one of the most deeply rooted associations in the town, with over one hundred members. Beyond the bean feast, the Alpini dedicate themselves year-round to solidarity, civil protection, historical memory, and a strong attachment to their territory. The bean feast is the moment when this community spirit becomes an open celebration: those who wish to discover the most authentic and welcoming side of a small Biella town will find the perfect opportunity here.

An authentic experience in the Biella region

More than a grand spectacle, the Alpine Bean Festival of Mottalciata is a small, intimate, and sincere village celebration, where the true value lies in conviviality and warm hospitality. It is ideal for those seeking a genuine experience far from the tourist trails, immersed in the flavors and rhythms of the Province of Biella and rural Piedmont.