Art, Crafts, Music and… Siole Pien-e

Siole Pien-e, the delicious heart of Rivera

In the municipality of Almese, in the province of Turin at the entrance to the Susa Valley, the village of Rivera has always been linked to an iconic dish: Siole Pien-e, the traditional stuffed onions of the Piedmont and Susa Valley region. The flat, blonde onion is hollowed out, and the pulp is minced and mixed with egg, cooked ham, and Parmesan cheese to create the filling; every family in Rivera jealously guards its own variation, with some even adding amaretti biscuits for a sweet version.

Born in 1998, the "Art, Crafts, Music and… Siole Pien-e" festival was created around this specialty, transforming the streets and squares of Rivera every autumn into a vibrant hub of flavors, crafts, and entertainment. It is more than just a food festival: it is a community celebration lasting about ten days, centered around the patronal feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, held every October.

Ten days of taste, art, and entertainment

The program alternates between popular culinary delights and cultural events. Highlights include the distribution of Siole Pien-e in savory, vegetarian, and sweet versions, bignette cui pum (apple fritters), themed menus in local restaurants, and showcooking events pairing onions with wine. Alongside the food, there are craft markets and local product stalls, art exhibitions set in the evocative Ricetto di San Mauro, as well as concerts, theater, and dance performances.

The participatory aspect is also very strong: the stuffed onion and apple pie competition, open to everyone, rewards the best recipes, while children's workshops, Raku pottery demonstrations, nature walks, vintage car rallies, and sporting events complete the schedule.

A village festival in the Susa Valley

The event is organized by the Siolepiene Cultural Recreational Association and is part of the #GustoValsusa circuit, which promotes the valley's typical products. For those visiting Rivera, Siole Pien-e is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Piedmont, far from the main tourist circuits, where home cooking becomes a reason for the entire Almese community to celebrate.

The village of Rivera, with its medieval tower and historic center, provides the ideal backdrop for an event that has been attracting visitors from across the Turin area and the Susa Valley for over twenty years.