Cinta Senese Brada Festival

A festival that tells the story of rural Tuscany

The Cinta Senese Brada Festival is one of the most beloved summer events in San Casciano dei Bagni, a small town in the Province of Siena nestled in the Val di Chiana Senese, on the border between Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. For a long weekend in late August, the local sports facilities transform into a large gastronomic village where the absolute star is the DOP Cinta Senese, the native pig breed that symbolizes Sienese gastronomy.

The Cinta Senese, a product of identity

The Cinta Senese is an ancient breed, already depicted in 1340 in Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Good Government fresco in Siena. It risked extinction in the 1960s, when only about forty specimens remained, but it was saved and is now protected by the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP). Recognizable by its black coat crossed by a characteristic white band, it is raised in the wild or semi-wild state in the local woods, where the pigs supplement their diet with acorns, chestnuts, roots, and cereals: it is this outdoor lifestyle that gives the meat the unmistakable flavor that the festival celebrates.

At the table: the taste of Cinta

The heart of the festival is the food stalls, managed by the Polisportiva Fontebelverde, which open every evening from 7:00 PM. The menu features the great classics of tradition: platters of cured meats, pancetta and capocollo, oven-roasted loin, grilled sausages, and crispy ribs, accompanied by seasonal side dishes and the typical saltless Tuscan bread. There is no shortage of first courses, from pappardelle with Cinta ragù to slow-cooked braised meats. Everything is presented with care for ethical farming, animal welfare, and the rural passion that characterizes the territory.

Music, sports, and fun

The Cinta Senese Festival is not just about good food: every evening offers live music, DJ sets, and ballroom dancing, while the afternoons are dedicated to football tournaments involving local youth and enthusiasts. It is a community celebration where the promotion of an excellent product intertwines with conviviality and the social life of San Casciano dei Bagni.

San Casciano dei Bagni, a village to discover

Attending the festival is also an opportunity to discover one of the most charming thermal villages in Tuscany: famous since Roman times for its hot springs, San Casciano dei Bagni has returned to the international spotlight for its extraordinary archaeological findings of votive bronzes. The festival, organized by the Polisportiva Fontebelverde with the patronage of the Municipality, is the perfect moment to combine food and wine, culture, and thermal relaxation in an authentic corner of the province of Siena.