Festa della Zucca

The capital of pumpkin tortelli

In Quistello, a municipality in the province of Mantua in the Oltrepò Mantovano, the Festa della Zucca is the gastronomic event that best tells the story of the autumn of the plain. Organized by the Pro Loco Quistello, it takes place every October in Piazza Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa and highlights an iconic ingredient of Mantuan cuisine: pumpkin, here presented in the prized indigenous variety Capel dal Pret.

Capel dal Pret and vin cotto

The festival focuses on local excellences, including the Capel dal Pret pumpkin — a variety cultivated in the area and protected by the De.Co. designation — and vin cotto (cooked wine). These are the protagonists of a peasant tradition that has become gastronomic culture in Quistello, with recipes passed down from generation to generation.

Traditional dishes

The heated food stand, open every evening and Sunday for lunch, offers the great pumpkin-based classics: the famous tortelli di zucca alla quistellese, risotto, fried pumpkin with mostarda and Parmigiano Reggiano, and other seasonal specialties. Simple and generous dishes that tell the delicious soul of the Oltrepò Mantovano.

Two weekends of celebration

The Festa della Zucca traditionally takes place over the first two weekends of October, animating the center of Quistello with food, markets, and events. It is an event that attracts gourmets from all over the province of Mantua and beyond, confirming Quistello, in Lombardy, as one of the capitals of pumpkin and its tortelli.