Canestrello and Chocolate Festival
Flavor, tradition, and culture at the Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso
About Canestrello Festival
A delicious festival in the heart of the Susa Valley
The Canestrello and Chocolate Festival is one of the most anticipated spring events in Buttigliera Alta, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Turin overlooking the lower Susa Valley, in Piedmont. Organized by the local Pro Loco tourist association with the patronage of the municipality, the event celebrates the canestrello, a fragrant biscuit that serves as one of the area's most delicious symbols, paired with another favorite for food lovers: chocolate.
The setting: Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso
The true star, alongside the gastronomic specialties, is the venue hosting the festival: the Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso, a stunning Gothic complex founded by the Antonine monks along the Via Francigena and currently managed by the Ordine Mauriziano Foundation. Strolling through its frescoed naves and cloister while the festival unfolds outside offers a unique atmosphere, suspended between art, faith, and popular tradition.
Market, tastings, and workshops
The day begins in the morning with the Ancient Knowledge, New Flavors fair, a showcase of the best local artisanal and agricultural products. For wine lovers, guided tastings are available, focusing on local grape varieties, including the rare Baratuciat, an indigenous Susa Valley vine protected by a dedicated association.
- Guided tours of the abbey, with thematic itineraries on the Via Francigena, monks, and pilgrims;
- The canestrello workshop, to discover the secrets of this sweet treat and prepare it with your own hands;
- A snack of bread and chocolate provided by the Pro Loco refreshment point;
- Entertainment and workshops for children, ranging from thematic games to activities on scents and cheesemaking curated by the Management Body of the Cottian Alps Protected Areas.
Recognition for the region
In recent years, the festival has taken on even greater symbolic value for Buttigliera Alta, which uses this occasion to celebrate its inclusion in the Royal Road of Turin Wines, the wine-tourism itinerary that promotes the excellence of the province's viticulture. This recognition confirms the municipality's commitment to promoting fine food, excellent wine, and cultural heritage.
Early music to conclude the day
Crowning the festival is an event of great refinement: a free early music concert inside the Precettoria, part of the Regie Armonie series along the Via Francigena. Between the viola da gamba and harpsichord, the audience is transported to the atmosphere of Baroque courts, in a finale that blends taste, history, and harmony.
Canestrello Festival — edition 2026
L'edizione 2026 ha animato la Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso per l'intera giornata di domenica 24 maggio, confermando il felice connubio tra gastronomia, cultura e musica che caratterizza la festa.
Tra i momenti salienti, l'inaugurazione della targa che sancisce l'ingresso di Buttigliera Alta nella Strada Reale dei Vini Torinesi e il concerto conclusivo dell'ensemble Les Violes du Roi, parte della rassegna Regie Armonie lungo la Via Francigena.
Programme Canestrello Festival 2026
Domenica 24 maggio 2026 — Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso
- Dalle 9:00 — Fiera Antico sapere, nuovi sapori, vetrina delle produzioni artigianali e contadine locali
- 10:00 — Prima degustazione guidata di vini e prodotti locali, a cura dell'Associazione Tutela Baratuciat
- 11:15 — Visita guidata L'Abbazia sulla Via Francigena: monaci e pellegrini sulla strada di Ranverso (prenotazione obbligatoria entro il giorno precedente)
- 14:30 — Laboratorio del canestrello e merenda con pane e cioccolata
- 16:00 — Seconda degustazione guidata di vini
- 16:30 — Inaugurazione della targa di ingresso nella Strada Reale dei Vini Torinesi
- 17:30 — Concerto gratuito Regie Armonie alla Corte del Re con l'ensemble Les Violes du Roi (viole da gamba e clavicembalo)
Per tutto il pomeriggio: laboratori Scopriaromi e animazioni per bambini a cura della Pro Loco, laboratori di caseificazione a cura dell'Ente Parco Alpi Cozie.
Highlights Canestrello Festival 2026
Prices Canestrello Festival 2026
Practical information — Canestrello Festival
How to get there
The Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso is located along the Strada Antica di Francia, in Buttigliera Alta (TO), in the lower Susa Valley. By car, it is easily reached from the A32 Turin-Bardonecchia motorway (Avigliana exit) or the Moncenisio state road. By train, the reference stations are Rosta or Avigliana on the Turin-Modane line.
When
The festival takes place on a Sunday in late May, with a program running from 9:00 AM until the evening concert.
Admission and reservations
Admission to the festival and the final concert is free. Guided tours require mandatory reservation. For information and bookings: tel. +39 011 9367450 (active from Wednesday to Sunday during ticket office hours) or [email protected].
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Canestrello Festival
Precettoria di Sant'Antonio di Ranverso
Strada Antica di Francia, 10090 Buttigliera Alta