Broad Bean and Strawberry Festival in Pieve di Santa Luce

A double festival celebrating the Tuscan spring

Every first weekend of May, the small village of Pieve di Santa Luce, in the Municipality of Santa Luce (Province of Pisa, Tuscany), comes alive for one of the most beloved village festivals in the Pisan hills: the Broad Bean Festival and the Strawberry Festival. These two historic events take place simultaneously and, year after year, continue to attract visitors from across the Val di Fine and the Livorno-Pisa hinterland.

The festival revolves around two absolute protagonists of the Tuscan spring table: the broad bean (known locally as baccello) and the strawberry, harvested in local fields as the warm season arrives.

Traditional flavors

The heart of the festival lies in the food stalls managed by the volunteers of Polisportiva Pieve, where you can savor typical dishes of Tuscan peasant cuisine. Among the most popular offerings:

• Raw fava beans (baccelli) with pecorino and baccellone, the fresh and slightly salty cheese that has always accompanied freshly shelled beans;
• Pappardelle with wild boar sauce, a symbol of the Tuscan hills' culinary tradition;
• Vegetable soups and stewed fava beans;
• Grilled meat in its many varieties;
• Fresh strawberries and strawberry-based desserts to round off the meal.

On Saturday and Sunday, the stalls are open for both lunch, from 12:00 PM, and dinner, from 7:00 PM, with a dining service that allows you to sit down and enjoy the full menu.

Music and entertainment

Beyond the culinary experience, the three days are accompanied by live music and various shows, which enliven the evenings and make the festival a perfect outing for the whole family. It follows the classic formula of an Italian village festival: good food, conviviality, and outdoor entertainment.

A local celebration

The event is made possible by the commitment of Polisportiva Pieve and many local volunteers, with the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Luce. It is a prime example of how small communities in the Pisan hills keep their traditions alive: the Broad Bean Festival has reached its 46th edition, while the Strawberry Festival celebrates its 31st, a testament to a continuity that has lasted for decades.