Cervellata Festival
Celebrating Toritto's signature sausage in the village of Quasano
About Cervellata Festival
The festival celebrating the cervellata
The Cervellata Festival is one of the most anticipated food and wine events of the summer in Toritto, in the province of Bari, in the heart of Puglia. The event takes place in the village of Quasano, the only hamlet of Toritto, perched at an altitude of about 370 meters on the Murgia plateau, near the Alta Murgia National Park. Here, amidst cool summer evenings and the intimate atmosphere of the village, the absolute star is the cervellata, the typical Toritto sausage.
A traditional agri-food product
The cervellata is a sausage prepared with the moistest cuts of beef, degreased and minced, seasoned with fresh basil, garlic, pepper, and salt, according to a recipe passed down through generations. It is included in the national list of Traditional Agri-food Products (PAT), a testament to the deep bond between the territory and its cuisine. During the festival, you can taste it in all its variations, prepared by local cooks, alongside other traditional Apulian specialties.
Music, entertainment, and conviviality
The Cervellata Festival is not just about gastronomy: every evening, stalls open at dusk, and the village comes alive with live music, street food, entertainment shows, and activities dedicated to families and children. Concerts, DJ sets, and comedy shows transform the squares of Quasano into a festive hub, where residents and visitors gather under the stars in a spirit of joy and sharing.
A local identity
Organized by the Pro Loco Toritto-Quasano APS with the patronage of the Puglia Region and the Municipality of Toritto, the festival represents a moment of pride for the local community and an opportunity to showcase the cultural and culinary heritage of the Murgia. Over the years, the Toritto cervellata has become a symbol, even inspiring friendly culinary rivalries with other local cured meat products, such as the famous zampina from Sammichele.
Why attend
- Taste the cervellata, a typical PAT sausage from Toritto
- Discover the village of Quasano and the Alta Murgia landscape
- Enjoy live music, shows, and street food with free entry
- Experience a typical Apulian festival blending tradition and conviviality
Cervellata Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 Cervellata Festival brings the village of Quasano, a hamlet of Toritto, to life on the evenings of Saturday, July 4th, and Sunday, July 5th. Food stalls open in the early evening, around 8:00 PM, offering the Toritto cervellata in numerous variations alongside traditional Apulian specialties.
The entertainment program includes, on Saturday, July 4th, the official inauguration at 8:00 PM, followed at 9:30 PM by the show "Baciami ancora", an all-Italian journey of love, nostalgia, and the greatest hits of our music. On Sunday, July 5th, at 9:00 PM, the stage belongs to the Apulian band "Superclassifica Sció", for a night of singing and dancing together in the square.
Entry is free. The event celebrates the cervellata, a typical sausage from Toritto included in the list of Traditional Agri-food Products, in an atmosphere of celebration and conviviality.
Programme Cervellata Festival 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- 8:00 PM - Opening of food stalls and official inauguration
- 9:30 PM - "Baciami ancora", Italian music show featuring love, nostalgia, and great hits
Sunday, July 5, 2026
- 8:00 PM - Opening of food stalls
- 9:00 PM - Concert by the Apulian band "Superclassifica Sció"
Highlights Cervellata Festival 2026
Prices Cervellata Festival 2026
Practical information — Cervellata Festival
Location
Village of Quasano, hamlet of Toritto (Metropolitan City of Bari), on the Murgia plateau at an altitude of approximately 370 m.
How to get there
By car: from Bari, take the SS96 and SP157 towards Toritto-Quasano (approx. 40 minutes). By train: Toritto station on the Bari-Altamura-Matera line (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane), then road connection to the hamlet of Quasano.
Entry and hours
Free entry. Food stalls open in the early evening (from approx. 8:00 PM). Shows and concerts take place later in the evening.
Contact
Pro Loco Toritto-Quasano APS - tel. +39 347 318 3842 - [email protected] - www.sagradellacervellata.it
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Where does it take place — Cervellata Festival
Borgata di Quasano
Rotonda di Quasano, 70020 Toritto