Crostino Festival

The Crostino Festival in Bibbiena Stazione

The Crostino Festival is a food and wine event that brings Bibbiena Stazione to life—a bustling district of the municipality of Bibbiena, in the province of Arezzo, in the heart of the Casentino valley. It is a young festival, launched in 2025 and reaching its second edition in 2026, which has quickly carved out a spot in the valley's early summer calendar. The event is traditionally held on a Saturday in the area in front of the Social Aggregation Center, a local hub that becomes the focal point for an outdoor evening dedicated to taste and good company.

The crostino, a symbol of Tuscan cuisine

The absolute star of the festival is the Tuscan crostino, the quintessential appetizer of the regional table. Prepared with a chicken liver pâté seasoned with onions, anchovies, capers, and a splash of wine, spread over slices of rustic bread, the crostino has accompanied festive lunches, convivial dinners, and village feasts throughout Tuscany for centuries. In Bibbiena, this traditional peasant dish becomes the common thread of an evening that highlights the simple and genuine flavors of the territory, in the familiar and welcoming atmosphere typical of Casentino festivals.

An event for the whole family

The Crostino Festival is designed as a moment of gathering for the entire community. The program combines the gastronomic experience with various forms of entertainment for all ages:

• Music and dancing to liven up the evening;
• Artisan markets featuring local products and creations;
• Bouncy castles for children, making the festival suitable for young families.

The atmosphere is that of a relaxed and convivial village fair, where people gather outdoors to dine together, listen to music, and spend a carefree evening awaiting the summer.

Bibbiena and the Casentino

Bibbiena is the main hub of the Casentino, the first of the valleys crossed by the Arno River, nestled between the mountains of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines and famous for the Casentinesi Forests National Park, the sanctuaries of La Verna and Camaldoli, and a rich heritage of Romanesque parish churches and medieval castles. The district of Bibbiena Stazione, which developed around the railway station on the line connecting Arezzo to Stia, is now a lively residential area where events like the Crostino Festival help strengthen the sense of community and introduce residents and visitors to the gastronomic traditions of Tuscany.