Festa Bsonta

The Festa Bsonta of Gropparello

The Festa Bsonta is one of the most cherished gastronomic festivals in the summer calendar of Gropparello, a small municipality in Val d'Arda perched on the first hills of the Piacenza Apennines, in Emilia-Romagna. The event, organized by Pro Loco Giovani Gropparello, enlivens the village at the beginning of June with a weekend dedicated to good food and togetherness, in the authentic spirit of village festivals.

The name and tradition of "bsonta"

The name of the festival is rooted in the Piacenza dialect: "bsonta" refers to the idea of something oily and fragrant, namely the tradition of fried dough that has always perfumed the kitchens and festivals of this land. The star is the chisulén (fried cake, a relative of the Emilian gnocco fritto), a simple dough made of flour, water, and lard, fried until golden and puffy. It is a dish of poor peasant cuisine, created to replace bread and over time has become a symbol of Piacenza's conviviality, to be accompanied by the famous local cured meats.

What to expect

For two days, the center of Gropparello transforms into a large outdoor gathering place. The Pro Loco's food stalls offer Piacenza's traditional specialties, in a family atmosphere of shared tables, chatter, and the aroma of frying. The festival is an opportunity to rediscover the genuine flavors of the Apennines and to support the work of the volunteers who keep the village's identity alive.

• Fried specialties of Piacenza's popular cuisine
• Typical cured meats from the province of Piacenza
• Village festival atmosphere in the hills of Val d'Arda
• Stalls managed by volunteers from Pro Loco Giovani Gropparello

Gropparello and Val d'Arda

Gropparello is best known for its medieval castle, but the village also preserves a lively tradition of festivals and fairs linked to local products. Included in the official calendar of IAT Valnure e Valchero, the Festa Bsonta is one of the events that, alongside the Grape Festival and the Farmer's Festival, mark the municipality's festive season. Visiting it means immersing yourself in the gastronomic culture of the province of Piacenza, at the crossroads of the Emilian plain and the first Apennine foothills.