Festa dei Volpai

The hunters' festival of Pozzolatico

Every year in late May, the small village of Pozzolatico, in the municipality of Impruneta (Province of Florence), comes alive for the Festa dei Volpai. Founded in 2013, this event is deeply rooted in the hunting traditions of the Florentine Chianti hills. It is organized by the local branch of the Italian Hunting Federation together with the Fox Hunting Team, from which the festival takes its name: the "volpai" are the hunters dedicated to this ancient practice.

Game cuisine as the star

The heart of the festival is its gastronomy. At the stalls set up at the Circolo Ricreativo Culturale di Pozzolatico on Via Imprunetana, visitors can enjoy traditional Tuscan game dishes, prepared by volunteers using time-honored recipes. The menu includes:

• Tuscan appetizers with cold cuts and crostini;
• Pasta dishes with venison, wild boar, roe deer, or tomato sauce;
• Main courses of wild boar with leeks, stewed roe deer, and the famous pork scottiglia;
• Alternatively, grilled pork ribs and sausages, chicken, and sliced steak (tagliata);
• Side dishes of French fries or salad, and to finish, cantuccini biscuits with vinsanto wine.

The scottiglia, in particular, is a symbol of Tuscan peasant cooking: a savory stew of mixed meats slow-cooked in tomato sauce, perfect for mopping up with bread.

Cynology, falconry, and music

Beyond the table, the Festa dei Volpai offers a rich entertainment program linked to the world of hunting and nature. Over the two days, there are cynology demonstrations of obedience and truffle hunting with Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, performances by the Chioccolatori group using bird calls, and falconry shows featuring free-flying diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey. In the evening, live music takes center stage with cover bands keeping the atmosphere lively until late.

A local festival in the Chianti region

Far from the main tourist circuits yet only a few kilometers from Florence, the Festa dei Volpai preserves the authenticity of Tuscan village festivals: affordable prices, a family atmosphere, and a strong connection to the Impruneta community, a land also famous for its terracotta and the Fiera di San Luca. It is the ideal occasion for those who want to discover a genuine side of Tuscany, made of rural traditions and bold flavors.