Festival of Salama da Tai

A festival from the heart of the Ferrarese area

The Festival of Salama da Tai takes place in Guarda Ferrarese, a small hamlet that since 2019 is part of the Municipality of Riva del Po, in the province of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna. Reaching its 31st edition in 2026, it is one of the most beloved festivals in the lower Ferrarese region: born from the passion of the village volunteers, it celebrates, as its name suggests, the salama da tai, a cured meat served sliced with a knife, uncooked.

Three weekends of tradition

The festival spans three weekends, from May 29 to June 14, 2026, with the restaurant opening every evening from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM. The food stand, managed entirely by volunteers from the Nuova Associazione di Guarda, offers a menu that is a journey into Ferrarese peasant cuisine.

The traditional menu

On the table are the great classics of local gastronomy:

• Salama da tai, the cured meat that gives the festival its name, served sliced
• Salamina da sugo, the other great Ferrarese specialty, slow-cooked
• Mixed cold cuts and traditional Ferrarese bread loaf
• Handmade pasta dishes: pumpkin cappellacci, cappelletti, ravioli
• Grilled meats, pork ribs and loin
• Mixed cheeses and homemade desserts

No reservations are needed: just take a seat at the tables under the marquees and enjoy dinner in a simple and familiar atmosphere.

Music and culture

Every evening, the festival is accompanied by a piano bar, providing the soundtrack to the evenings and encouraging guests to stay after dinner. Throughout the festival period, the exhibition Terre del Mulino del Po, dedicated to ancient crafts, rural culture, and collecting, is also open for visits, set up in Via Repubblica 4 with free admission.

Between the Po riverbank and the countryside

Guarda Ferrarese is located along the Po riverbank, in a plain landscape that tells the agricultural history of these lands. The Festival of Salama da Tai is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the province of Ferrara, far from the tourist routes, where the food and wine tradition of Emilia-Romagna is still experienced with the genuineness of yesteryear.