Cena dell'Ocio

A night dedicated to goose in the heart of the Val di Chiana

The Cena dell'Ocio is one of the summer culinary highlights in the village of Montecchio Vesponi, a small hamlet within the municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino, in the province of Arezzo. Included in the municipality's official calendar of festivals and village fairs, the evening is organized by CAS Montecchio Vesponi APS, the association that has been keeping the village's community spirit alive for years alongside the local sports club.

The star of the show is goose—the "ocio," as they call it around here—prepared according to traditional Aretine peasant recipes. It is one of those genuine village dinners where you sit at outdoor tables, enjoy great food at affordable prices, and soak up the company: the authentic spirit of Tuscan festivals, far from touristy traps.

Montecchio Vesponi and its castle

The dinner takes place in Montecchio Vesponi, a village perched on a hill at about 364 meters above sea level, a few kilometers south of Castiglion Fiorentino. The village is dominated by the famous Castello di Montecchio Vesponi, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Tuscany: with its crenelated walls, nine towers, and high keep, it was the 14th-century residence of the condottiero Giovanni Acuto (the English mercenary captain John Hawkwood). Attending the Cena dell'Ocio is also a way to experience this corner of the Aretine Val di Chiana, which is steeped in history.

A community that celebrates all year round

The Cena dell'Ocio is not an isolated event: Montecchio Vesponi is a lively village that offers various traditional gatherings throughout the year. Among the most popular are:

• the historic Wild Boar Festival (Sagra del Cinghiale) in spring, one of the longest-running in the area;
• the Ferragosto Steak Dinner (Bisteccata di Ferragosto) in mid-August;
• the Chestnut Festival (Sagra della Castagna) in autumn, which has been held for over forty years;
• charity dinners that have been drawing hundreds of participants for years.

The Cena dell'Ocio fits into this calendar as an early summer event, often coinciding with the nearby Pizza Festival in the Nave area, also within the territory of Castiglion Fiorentino. It is the ideal opportunity to savor the cuisine of the Val di Chiana and breathe in the genuine atmosphere of Tuscan village festivals.