Festa dello Zafferano ed Escursione Foliage Faggeta del Monte Cipollara

A festival of nature and peasant tradition

The Saffron Festival is one of the most characteristic autumn events in Braccano, a small and picturesque hamlet in the Municipality of Matelica, in the Province of Macerata, in the heart of the Marche hinterland. Organised by the Associazione Comitato Feste Braccano (Braccano Festival Committee Association), the event celebrates the territory's symbolic product, saffron, during the period when the fields are in bloom and the Apennine woods are tinged with warm autumn colours.

Braccano saffron, an ancient history

The cultivation of saffron in these lands has been documented since the 14th and 15th centuries: the bulbs are planted in August, and the delicate lilac to violet bloom occurs in October, when the three precious red stigmas are harvested by hand in the early morning hours. This tradition, revived in recent years thanks to local young producers, makes Matelica saffron one of the gastronomic excellences of the area, alongside the famous Verdicchio di Matelica wine, honey, and cured meats.

Foliage excursion to Monte Cipollara

The heart of the day is the "Foliage faggeta del Monte Cipollara" excursion, a guided walk that starts from the hamlet of Braccano and climbs towards the beech woods that in autumn offer a spectacle of reds, yellows, and oranges. It is an opportunity to discover the mountain landscape of the upper valley, along paths, with panoramic views and silence, in one of the most beautiful parts of the Marche Apennines.

Village of murals and saffron flavours

Braccano is known as the village of murals, for the numerous paintings that decorate the houses of the village and can be admired while strolling through the alleys. Upon returning from the excursion, the festival offers a tasting of traditional dishes flavoured with local saffron, from first courses to regional appetizers with cured meats, cheeses, and honey, accompanied by typical local products.

Why participate

• Discover a spice cultivated in the Apennines since the Middle Ages
• Experience an excursion in the autumn foliage of Monte Cipollara
• Visit the characteristic village of murals in Braccano
• Taste typical Marche dishes with saffron

The Saffron Festival is an ideal event for families, hikers, and food and wine enthusiasts who want to experience the Marche autumn authentically, amidst nature and tradition.