Barbajuai Festival

The Barbajuai, a Gastronomic Treasure of the Ponente

The Barbajuai Festival is the celebration dedicated to one of the most characteristic specialties of Camporosso and the Nervia Valley, in the province of Imperia. The barbajuai (or barbagiuai) are fried ravioli stuffed with pumpkin, rice, beans, and brusso, a typical fermented cheese from the Ligurian Ponente with an intense flavor. A dish with ancient origins, a symbol of the simple yet creative cuisine of the Riviera dei Fiori.

A Festival Linked to Religious Tradition

The festival takes place on the third Sunday of September, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, combining the gastronomic dimension with the religious and popular one. The distribution of freshly fried barbajuai is the most anticipated moment of the day, accompanied by music and a convivial atmosphere at the Palatenda Bigauda.

A Dish Best Enjoyed Freshly Fried

The barbajuai are at their best when hot and crispy, straight from the boiling oil. Their preparation requires time and skill, and the festival is the ideal occasion to taste them in their most authentic version, according to the recipe passed down through local families.

Camporosso and the Nervia Valley

Nestled between the sea and the inland Nervia Valley, Camporosso preserves valuable gastronomic and religious traditions. The Barbajuai Festival is a perfect example, managing to unite the taste of a unique dish with local devotion and village celebration, on one of the most cherished Sundays of autumn on the Riviera dei Fiori.