CiliegiAmo — Villar Dora Cherry Festival
Four days dedicated to the Villar Dora cherry, blending culture, art, flavors, and tradition in the lower Susa Valley.
About CiliegiAmo
The Cherry Festival in the lower Susa Valley
In Villar Dora, a charming town in the lower Susa Valley nestled within the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, the cherry is more than just a fruit—it is a true symbol of local identity. Every year in early June, the town hosts CiliegiAmo — Cherry Festival, a four-day celebration that highlights local fruit growing and the rural traditions of the Villar Dora community.
An event blending culture, art, and flavor
Organized by the Pro Loco of Villar Dora with the patronage of the Piedmont Regional Council, the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Susa Valley Mountain Union, and the Municipality of Villar Dora, the festival offers much more than just food stalls. The program alternates between cultural and social activities: art and photography exhibitions, conferences on the history and future of the cherry, and displays dedicated to village traditions, craftsmanship, and children's projects.
What to expect
- Exhibitions and displays at the Social Center on Via Pelissere, featuring the history of the cherry, photography of the orchards, and local crafts.
- Conferences and musical performances celebrating the past and present of the Villar Dora cherry.
- Local produce market along the town center streets, showcasing regional specialties.
- Guided walks through the cherry orchards and outdoor activities immersed in the agricultural landscape.
- Cherry-based delicacies, from gelato to festive dishes served by the Pro Loco.
A continuing tradition
CiliegiAmo carries on the legacy of historical cherry festivals in Villar Dora—once known as Ciliegiando—renewing the bond between the town, its orchards, and the agricultural culture of the lower Susa Valley each year. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Piedmont, far from the main tourist hubs but rich in flavor and stories, just a few kilometers from Avigliana and the Sacra di San Michele.
CiliegiAmo — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of CiliegiAmo brought Villar Dora to life from Thursday, June 4th to Sunday, June 7th, with a program spread across the town center and the Social Center on Via Pelissere. The event, organized by the Pro Loco with the patronage of the Piedmont Regional Council, the Metropolitan City of Turin, and the Susa Valley Mountain Union, confirmed the successful formula that blends art, culture, sport, and gastronomy around the region's signature fruit.
Highlights included the 'Rosso ciliegia' group art exhibition, the conference 'The cherry in Villar Dora: past and present', the 'Calciotto dei Ciliegi' tournament, the planting of new trees, cherry gelato for children, and on Sunday, the 'Dipingi CiliegiAmo' open-air painting event alongside the local produce market.
Programme CiliegiAmo 2026
Thursday, June 4
- 6:00 PM — Inauguration of the 'Rosso ciliegia' group art exhibition at the BeMeWe headquarters (Via Almese 17).
Friday, June 5
- 4:00 PM — Opening of the exhibitions at the Social Center (Via Pelissere 16): rural traditions, local crafts, photography exhibition on cherry trees, and children's projects.
- 5:00 PM — Conference 'The cherry in Villar Dora: past and present', with testimonials and insights into fruit growing.
- Musical interlude 'The cherry becomes music', scientific presentation, and cherry-themed aperitif.
- 8:00 PM — Traditional 'Cena in Rosso' (Red Dinner) in Piazza Roma (reservation required with the Pro Loco).
Saturday, June 6
- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM — 'Calciotto dei Ciliegi' tournament at the Via Almese soccer field.
- Morning — Planting of new cherry trees and, in Piazza San Rocco, a ceremony for the donation of a defibrillator by the Villar Dora Alpini Group.
- 4:00 PM — Meeting with primary and preschool students at the Social Center, with cherry gelato offered by the Pro Loco.
Sunday, June 7
- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM — 'Dipingi CiliegiAmo' open-air painting event.
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Local produce market along the town streets.
- 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM — Guided walks through the cherry orchards.
- 1:00 PM — 'Ciliegie in Tavola' communal lunch.
- 4:30 PM — Awards ceremony for the photography exhibition and the painting event.
Highlights CiliegiAmo 2026
Prices CiliegiAmo 2026
Practical information — CiliegiAmo
How to get there
Villar Dora is located in the lower Susa Valley, about 25 km from Turin. By car, it can be reached via the A32 Turin–Bardonecchia motorway (Avigliana Est/Ovest exit) or the SS25 Moncenisio state road. By train, the nearest station is Avigliana, on the Turin–Modane line.
When
The festival typically takes place in early June, spanning four days from Thursday to Sunday, in the town center and at the Social Center on Via Pelissere.
Prices and reservations
Admission to the events and markets is generally free. For communal lunches and certain gastronomic initiatives (such as the 'Cena in Rosso'), reservations with the Pro Loco are required. It is recommended to contact the organizers for updated details.
Contacts
Pro Loco Villar Dora — tel. +39 377 0240347.
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Where does it take place — CiliegiAmo
Centro storico e Centro sociale di via Pelissere