Festival of the Porsel and Feast of the Lardo

The Festival of the Porsel and Feast of the Lardo

The Festival of the Porsel and Feast of the Lardo takes place in Ossimo Superiore, a hamlet of the Municipality of Ossimo, in Valle Camonica, province of Brescia. It is a festival of the Camun peasant tradition held in the winter period, when in the past the pig slaughter took place: a central moment of the mountain rural economy, celebrated here with pride and memory.

The Cured Meats Take Centre Stage

The heart of the festival is the typical pork products: salami, cotechino, lard, guanciale, pancetta, and other specialties of Camun charcuterie. The food stands offer tastings of traditional dishes, often accompanied by polenta, in a combination of authentic flavours linked to the food culture of Valle Camonica.

The Norcini at Work

One of the most evocative aspects of the festival is the demonstrations of traditional butchery and the workshops featuring the norcini, the experts in pork processing. Watching them at work is a way to discover an ancient craft and the secrets of preparing Camun cured meats, according to techniques passed down from generation to generation. Musical bands accompany the days, enlivening the festive atmosphere.

An Identity Feast of Valcamonica

Organized by the Pro Loco 'Per Osem', the Festival of the Porsel is part of the Valcamonica tourist calendar and represents one of the most characteristic events of the Christmas period in the valley. In the territory of the Municipality of Ossimo, in the province of Brescia, it is an opportunity to immerse oneself in the peasant traditions of the Brescia mountains and to savour the authenticity of a festival deeply rooted in the territory.