Dining with Messer Giovanni

A medieval banquet along Via Boccaccio

Every June, the village of Certaldo Alto, in the municipality of Certaldo near Florence, transforms into a 15th-century stage. "Dining with Messer Giovanni" is a medieval banquet organized by the Elitropia Cultural Association: along the cobblestones of Via Boccaccio, a single, long table seating 380 guests is set, lit only by torches, stretching through the ancient heart of the town to the Palazzo Pretorio.

This is no mere costume dinner: it is a historical re-enactment that revives the gestures, flavors, and atmosphere of a Renaissance feast in one of Tuscany's most beautiful villages, the home of Giovanni Boccaccio.

Who is "Messer Giovanni"?

The event's name carries a double historical significance. When the Republic of Florence sent its Vicar to Certaldo, a grand banquet was held every year on the feast of Saint John (June 24th), the patron saint of Florence: notables, nobles, and landowners would gather amidst dancing, singing, early "fireworks," and mirabilia. At the same time, the initiative pays homage to Giovanni Boccaccio, the author of the Decameron, who was deeply attached to Certaldo and loved gathering friends and scholars around his table in his family home.

The menu: historical research on the plate

The courses are the result of careful study into the tastes and dietary habits of the Middle Ages. The menu, accompanied by wine and water, features evocative dishes:

• Bread morsels with pork bits and mashed fava bean soup with martellino crostini as starters;
• Shank of Ser Fabiotto da Cusona with aromatic herbs as the main course;
• Egano's sweets with Peronella's sweet wine to finish.

The service follows the rules of the era: guests eat from earthenware plates, using wooden cutlery and no forks, sometimes even using their hands. The terracotta set used during the dinner remains a gift for the diners.

Entertainment and atmosphere

The tables are served by about 80 costumed medieval characters, all volunteers from the association. Between courses, the evening is enlivened by roving performers: stilt-walkers, jugglers, fire-eaters, and sword duels, while torchlight envelops every corner of the village. The finale is marked by a grand fireworks display against the backdrop of the Palazzo Pretorio, the symbol of Certaldo Alto.

Reaching its 25th edition in 2026, "Dining with Messer Giovanni" has become a defining event for Certaldo and the entire Valdelsa region, blending fine food, street theater, and historical memory into a unique, immersive experience in the heart of Tuscany.