Brolio Frog Festival

A gastronomic tradition of the Valdichiana area

The Brolio Frog Festival is a historic summer event in the calendar of the Valdichiana area. It takes place in the small village of Brolio, in the municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino, in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. For nearly half a century, the festival has enlivened the village's summer evenings, drawing visitors from across the province and nearby Umbria with its most characteristic specialty: frog.

Frog, a dish of peasant tradition

In the fields and ditches of the Valdichiana, frogs were once abundant and represented a precious resource for simple peasant cooking. The festival revives and promotes this tradition by offering frog in two classic preparations: fried, crispy and golden, and stewed, cooked with a sauté of celery, onion, and tomato along with garlic and parsley. Alongside the signature dish, the food stalls offer grilled meat, particularly the prized Chianina beef, and numerous other typical Tuscan products.

Evenings of celebration and music

Every evening, starting around 7:30 PM, the stalls managed by the Frog Festival Association volunteers open. After dinner, the party continues with dancing featuring the best Tuscan dance orchestras, shows, entertainment for children, and social moments that make the festival a meeting point for the entire Brolio community. Over the years, the event has added side activities to its gastronomic program, such as Vespa rallies and amateur cycling races through the streets of the Valdichiana, as well as evenings dedicated to charity.

A village festival with free admission

Admission is free every evening, and the format is that of an authentic village fair: outdoor tables, a convivial atmosphere, and affordable prices. The Brolio Frog Festival is an ideal opportunity to discover a lesser-known corner of Tuscany, far from the major tourist flows, and to savor genuine cuisine linked to the territory. The event, organized by the Frog Festival Association with the support of local volunteers, is included in the official calendar of festivals and village fairs of the Municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino.

Castiglion Fiorentino and the Valdichiana

Brolio is located in the territory of Castiglion Fiorentino, a village of Etruscan and medieval origin overlooking the Valdichiana, a land of cultivated hills, rural landscapes, and deep food and wine traditions. Visiting the festival is also an opportunity to explore the historic center of Castiglion Fiorentino, with its famous Vasari Loggia and evidence of its Etruscan and Renaissance past.