Cavatore Festival

A festival born from the memory of the mines

The Cavatore Festival is one of the most cherished events in Capoliveri, a village perched in the south of the Island of Elba, in the Province of Livorno (Tuscany). It is not merely a local fair, but a re-enactment rooted in the island's mining history: for centuries, the economy of this part of Elba depended on iron extraction, and Capoliveri lived to the rhythm of the grueling work of its cavatori (miners), the "men of the vein".

The festival was created specifically to ensure that this recent past is not forgotten. Stories are told of men who rose at four in the morning, walked for miles or traveled by mule to reach the Calamita and Ginepro mines, and spent entire days extracting iron ore with pickaxes. Their pay at the end of the day often consisted of grain, oil, or wine.

Costumed processions and the miner's ballad

The heart of the event lies in its choral and popular spirit. Groups of performers dressed as miners walk through the chiassi, the narrow alleys of the historic center, singing the famous romanza del cavatore (miner's ballad), the traditional song that accompanied the labors of the men of the vein. The squares and alleys of the village transform into an open-air stage, while the Cavatore Choir keeps the musical memory of those years alive.

The peasant cuisine of the miners

The food deserves special mention. During the festival, the cucina povera (peasant cuisine) that once fed the miners is served: vegetable and legume soups, stale bread, boiled octopus, salt cod, and canned tuna—simple ingredients from land and sea. This is the famous convio, the frugal meal that miners carried in their baskets, which is now shared in a convivial atmosphere in the village squares.

Capoliveri and its village

Visiting the Cavatore Festival is also an opportunity to discover Capoliveri, one of the most characteristic villages on Elba, with its maze of alleys, artisan shops, and the authentic atmosphere of a town that has preserved its identity. The event, organized by the Pro Loco of Capoliveri, typically takes place in early summer and concludes with a Holy Mass in honor of the miners and a procession to the Piazza del Minatore, where a wreath is laid in memory of all those who worked in the mines.