Festival of the Gardens

A Village Festival in the Heart of Romagna

The Festa degli Orti, also known as Orti in festa, is one of the most cherished community festivals in Castel Bolognese, a municipality in the province of Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna. It takes place every year at the end of August in the green setting of the Park of the La Torre Recreational Cultural Centre, on Viale Umberto I, and is one of the established events of the municipal summer review Sere d'Estate, which from May to September offers dozens of events including music, theatre, cinema, literature, and entertainment for all ages.

The Romagnola Gastronomic Tradition

The heart of the festival is the food stall, which opens its doors at 6:00 PM. The cuisine is authentic Romagnola tradition: home-style dishes prepared by volunteers, accompanied by typical local wines. An outdoor banquet, under the late summer stars, where the atmosphere is that of genuine village festivals, made of chatter, conviviality, and simple flavours.

• Food stalls open from 6:00 PM
• Rich à la carte menu of Romagnola cuisine
• Traditional local wines
• Dancing evening with live orchestra

Ballroom Dancing Under the Stars

After dinner, the festival continues with the dancing evening: from 9:00 PM a live orchestra accompanies the public with ballroom dancing and the rhythms of Romagnola folk tradition. Dancing has always been the soul of the La Torre Social Centre festivals, attended by members and residents of all ages, in an evening that unites generations.

An Event by Volunteers

The Festa degli Orti is organized by the volunteers of the La Torre Recreational Cultural Centre, affiliated with Auser, an association that enlivens the social and cultural life of Castel Bolognese throughout the year. The event keeps alive the community and solidarity dimension typical of Romagnola recreational clubs, where the proceeds support the centre's activities and its projects for the local area.

Why Participate

For those visiting Romagna or the hinterland of Ravenna at the end of summer, the Festa degli Orti is the ideal opportunity to experience an authentic village festival, far from the most crowded tourist circuits. Castel Bolognese, nestled along the Via Emilia between Imola and Faenza, offers the truest and most welcoming face of the Romagnola countryside.