Bico Festival

A village festival in the heart of Southern Tuscany

The Bico Festival takes place every year in Piazze, a hamlet in the municipality of Cetona, at the southernmost tip of the province of Siena, just a few kilometers from the border with Umbria. It is an event deeply rooted in the local community, attracting visitors from across the Sienese Val di Chiana and nearby Umbrian towns. The festival spans two weekends, transforming the village into a convivial meeting place where you can enjoy great food, dance, and rediscover the authentic flavors of the region.

What is bico?

Bico is a humble bread with ancient origins, baked in a wood-fired oven and made from a simple dough of flour, water, yeast, oil, and a pinch of salt. In texture, it is somewhat of a cross between a Romagna piadina and an Umbrian torta al testo. Originally the daily bread of peasant cooking, meant to accompany the simplest dishes, it is now the true star of the festival: it is served stuffed with local cured meats and cheeses, or offered in delicious sweet versions, giving visitors the freedom to experiment with various local flavor combinations.

Gastronomy and conviviality

Every evening, the food stall opens for dinner, accompanied by bar and restaurant service. In addition to the famous bico, the festival offers many other tasty traditional specialties in the informal and festive setting typical of Tuscan village fairs. It is the ideal opportunity to savor genuine products in good company, seated at the long tables set up for the event.

Music and dance nights

The heart of the entertainment is the musical evenings, which span a variety of genres: from ballroom dance orchestras to 90s revival nights, and from brass band concerts to disco nights. Each evening offers a different event, designed to entertain both adults and children and to bring the village squares to life until late at night.

An opportunity to discover Cetona

The festival is also an excellent excuse to visit Cetona, one of the most charming villages in southern Tuscany, famous for its medieval historic center, Mount Cetona, and the area's rich archaeological heritage. The hamlet of Piazze, nestled in the hills on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, offers a warm welcome and a taste of village life that is worth the trip alone.