Chiodo di Maiale Festival

The chiodo di maiale, a dish that tells the story of Lunigiana

In the heart of Lunigiana, a borderland between Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia, the small village of Quercia (Municipality of Aulla, Province of Massa-Carrara) preserves a simple yet flavorful specialty: the chiodo di maiale. It consists of a mixture of ground pork, seasoned with lard, salt, and spices, shaped into small patties of about two hundred grams and cooked for a few minutes between two red-hot terracotta tiles, until it becomes crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The curious name is rooted in the rural life of the past. Up until the 1950s and 60s, during the pig slaughter, butchers would take a mid-morning break to taste the mixture intended for sausages: "adesso ci mettiamo il chiodo" (now we put in the nail), they would say, meaning they were stopping there. From that gesture, the name of a dish that has now become a gastronomic emblem of the territory was born.

A tradition lasting nearly forty years

The Chiodo di Maiale Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the Lunigiana winter calendar. Reaching its thirty-ninth edition in 2026, it is carefully organized by the Pro Loco La Quercia d'Oro, a group that has been dedicated to promoting the village's traditions for decades. The festival takes place in the heated halls of Quercia, a precious detail for an event in the middle of February, when Lunigiana is still wrapped in the cold of the Apennine winter.

Dining on peasant flavors

In addition to the absolute star, the freshly cooked chiodo, the festival menu offers a wide range of local cuisine prepared by volunteers:

• Traditional cold cuts and porchetta
• Testaroli with pesto, an ancient dish symbolic of Lunigiana
• Polenta with mushrooms and tagliatelle
• Local cheeses and regional wines
• Desserts like ricciolina and homemade tarts

The Farmers' Fair

On Sunday, the festival intertwines with the Farmers' Fair, the first agricultural fair of the year for the Municipality of Aulla. Stalls, exhibitors, and industry professionals bring the village to life for the entire day, in a blend of gastronomy, rural life, and social connection that renews the community's identity every year.

Why it's worth the trip

More than just a gastronomic event, the Chiodo di Maiale Festival is an immersion into the peasant culture of the Tuscan Lunigiana. It is an opportunity to discover a dish found nowhere else, taste local products, and experience the authentic atmosphere of a small village that resists and passes on its roots.