BancarelMiele

BancarelMiele: Celebrating the Gold of Lunigiana

In the heart of Lunigiana, a land of chestnut trees, medieval villages, and ancient parish churches, the Municipality of Mulazzo dedicates an entire weekend to its most precious product: Lunigiana PDO Honey. BancarelMiele is a food, wine, and cultural event established in 2025 to promote what was the first European PDO status ever granted to a honey in Italy—a distinction that makes this corner of the Massa-Carrara province a small capital of high-quality beekeeping.

Two Days of Taste, Knowledge, and Tradition

The festival unfolds along the streets and squares of Mulazzo's historic center, featuring a vibrant producers' market showcasing acacia and chestnut PDO honeys, as well as local cheeses, cured meats, olive oils, craft beers, and regional wines. Alongside the stalls, the program offers guided tastings, pairings of honey with local cheeses, and in-depth sessions dedicated to the world of bees.

A distinctive feature of BancarelMiele is its thematic panel discussions—public forums where producers, officials, researchers, and industry experts discuss the value of PDO, PGI, and traditional food products for the economy, tourism, and sustainability of Tuscany and the Lunigiana region.

Performances, Workshops, and Apiary Visits

The event has a strong family focus: there are plenty of children's workshops, ranging from bee-themed face painting to building hotels for pollinating insects and crafting workshops using beeswax. For children and families, there are performances such as The Bee Circus and dance moments inspired by the flight of insects. Those interested in getting a closer look at the beekeepers' work can participate in guided tours of local apiaries.

Mulazzo: A Village to Discover

Visiting BancarelMiele is also the perfect opportunity to explore Mulazzo, an ancient Malaspina fiefdom and, according to tradition, the home of Dante Alighieri during his exile. The village, nestled in the greenery of Lunigiana, preserves towers, alleys, and vistas that tell centuries of history. The festival thus becomes an invitation to experience the slow pace of an authentic Tuscan town, away from mass tourism routes, where excellent gastronomy blends with landscape and culture.