Ficattola Festival – Autumn Edition

The Autumn Ficattola Festival in San Vincenzo a Torri

As summer gives way to the first crisp days, the small hamlet of San Vincenzo a Torri, in the municipality of Scandicci (province of Florence, Tuscany), renews one of its most beloved traditions: the autumn edition of the Ficattola Festival. Organized by volunteers from the local MCL Club, the festival takes place over several non-consecutive Sundays between September and October, bringing the same gastronomic tradition that has enlivened the village for over forty years in spring to the autumn season.

What is a ficattola?

The ficattola is a humble and genuine specialty of Tuscan peasant cuisine: a piece of leavened dough fried in boiling oil, golden and crispy on the surface but soft inside. A close relative of the Florentine fried schiacciata, the ficattola is best enjoyed hot and fragrant straight from the pan, and it is precisely its simplicity that makes it the absolute star of the festival.

Specialties to taste

During the autumn Sundays, the Club volunteers prepare ficattole in several variations:

• Simple ficattole, to be enjoyed hot and crispy just after frying;
• Stuffed ficattole with ham, fontina cheese, and oregano;
• Variations filled with traditional cured meats;
• the famous "nutellina", the sweet version filled with Nutella, perfect for a delicious finish.

A community celebration

More than just a gastronomic event, the Ficattola Festival is a gathering point for the entire community of San Vincenzo a Torri. The MCL Club premises on Via San Niccolò come to life in the early afternoon (opening is generally around 3:30 PM) and fill with families, friends, and curious visitors who share tables in the spirit of conviviality typical of Tuscan village festivals. The autumn edition retains the genuine spirit of the spring one, with the more intimate atmosphere of the September and October days.

Scandicci and the surrounding area

Scandicci, a municipality in the Florence metropolitan area, is easily accessible from Florence thanks to the tramway. The hamlet of San Vincenzo a Torri is located in the hilly part of the municipal territory, immersed in the countryside that frames this authentic festival. Participating in the autumn Ficattola Festival means discovering a genuine corner of Tuscany, far from the most crowded tourist circuits and close to the true flavors of the Florentine tradition.