Candelo Earth Market

The Earth Market in the heart of the Ricetto

The Candelo Earth Market is a monthly gathering celebrating good, clean, and fair food in line with Slow Food principles. It takes place on the first Sunday of every month, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, inside the Ricetto of Candelo—one of the best-preserved medieval fortified villages in Europe, located in the heart of the municipality of Candelo, in the province of Biella (Piedmont). The characteristic cobbled streets and ancient stone cellars provide a stunning backdrop for the producers' stalls, turning local shopping into a truly immersive territorial experience.

Producers and Products

The market brings together a network of about thirty producers, with around twenty present at each edition. All participants adhere to Slow Food criteria: local, fresh, seasonal food that respects the environment and farming labor, offered at a fair price. Stalls feature:

• Alpine cheeses from the Biella region, including toma and maccagno;
• Honey, hazelnuts, and dried fruits;
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables, preserves, and flours;
• Cured meats and artisanal charcuterie;
• Craft beer and grappa;
• Slow Food Presidia from neighboring regions.

Themes, Tastings, and Workshops

Every edition of the market revolves around a specific theme. The 2026 opening event on March 1st was dedicated to "The World of Fermented Foods", featuring spontaneous vegetable fermentation, plant-based cheese alternatives, mountain honey sauerkraut tastings, and a kombucha workshop. The May edition celebrated flowers, bees, and pollinators in conjunction with the "Candelo in Fiore" event, featuring ethnobotany talks, theatrical honey tastings, floral workshops, and a flower risotto offered to the public. Subsequent Sundays continue with new stalls and educational sessions.

A Community Project

The market is organized by the Slow Food Biella Convivium, which has been working with local producers since 2014; official membership in the international Earth Market network was achieved in 2023 with the support of the Municipality of Candelo. More than just a market, it is a space for food education and social connection, where direct interaction between producers and consumers strengthens the local economy and the food culture of the Biella region.