Busìe Festival

A delicious tradition in the heart of Monferrato

The Busìe Festival is the fair that, every last Sunday of May, brings the ancient village of Visone to life—a small town in the province of Alessandria overlooking the Visone creek valley, just outside the Acqui Terme area. The absolute stars are the busìe, delicious sweet fritters from the Piedmontese popular tradition: a thin sheet of dough, fried and dusted with sugar, whose secret to crispiness and flavor has been passed down through generations. Since 2022, the municipality has granted the busìe the Municipal Designation (De.Co.), cementing their bond with the local territory and artisanal production.

Sixty years of celebration

The event has roots dating back to the 1930s and has been held consistently since 1966. In 2026, the festival celebrated its 60th edition, a milestone that testifies to how deeply rooted this event is in the identity of the Visone community. The festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Visone, which begins the massive collective cooking of the busìe from the earliest hours of the morning.

A full day of events

The day kicks off at dawn with the preparation of the busìe and continues non-stop until evening, enlivening the streets, squares, and most picturesque corners of the historic center. Among the most anticipated moments:

• the cooking of the busìe, which starts early in the morning and fills the entire village with their scent;
• the team tricycle race, a playful moment much loved by the public;
• the afternoon of music and dance performances by schools from Acqui Terme and Cassine;
• the Tower Grand Prix, with the grand finale in the late afternoon.

Market, art, and heritage

Throughout the day, the village hosts an antiques market and craft stalls, while an art exhibition is held at the Oratory of San Rocco. For the occasion, the tower and several historic residences in the town are opened to the public, offering visitors the chance to discover the architectural heritage of Visone. The Busìe Festival is much more than a gastronomic fair: it is an opportunity to experience the village, its traditions, and the hospitality of the Alessandria Monferrato.

Why it is worth attending

Immersed in the hilly landscape of southern Piedmont, just a few kilometers from Acqui Terme, the Busìe Festival offers an authentic day dedicated to the flavors of yesteryear, village conviviality, and the discovery of an iconic sweet that tells the story of an entire community.