Duck and Wild Boar Festival

A festival rooted in rural tradition

The Duck and Wild Boar Festival is one of the most deeply-rooted summer traditions in Cerreto Guidi, a small town perched on the Montalbano hills in the province of Florence, in the heart of Tuscany. Every year, for nearly three weeks in July, the garden of the Circolo ARCI Luigi Rossetti becomes a meeting point for thousands of food lovers who travel from all over the region to savor authentic local rural cuisine.

The event was born from a desire to revive the ancient customs associated with wheat threshing: in the past, once the harvest was finished, farming families would celebrate by cooking duck, the animal that traditionally accompanied these moments of hard work and conviviality. From that memory, the festival was born, initially dedicated solely to duck dishes and later enriched with wild boar, another staple of the Tuscan table.

Festival dishes

The menu is a journey through the authentic flavors of the Florentine hills. Among the most requested specialties are:

• Tuscan appetizers and dishes featuring duck neck and onions
• Pappardelle with duck sauce, the festival's signature dish
• First courses based on duck and wild boar
• Main courses of stewed duck, wild boar, and grilled steaks
• Cantuccini with Vin Santo for a sweet finish

The meals are perfectly paired with wines from the Cerreto hills, an expression of a territory dedicated to viticulture for centuries.

Beyond the food: vintage tractors

Alongside the culinary offerings, the festival hosts the highly anticipated vintage tractor exhibition organized by the G.A.C.E.B. group, featuring demonstrations and moments dedicated to the agricultural culture of the past. It is a wonderful opportunity for both adults and children to rediscover the machinery and trades that shaped life in the Montalbano countryside.

Atmosphere and conviviality

Organized by the volunteers of the Circolo ARCI Luigi Rossetti, the festival maintains an authentic and popular spirit: long outdoor tables, fair prices, and a warm welcome that make it an unmissable stop during the Cerreto summer. Furthermore, Cerreto Guidi is famous for its Medici Villa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is well worth a visit before or after your festival dinner.