Fiera di Balzo di Montegallo

A fair that smells of the mountains

The Fiera di Balzo di Montegallo is one of the most deeply rooted events in the upper Tronto valley, in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains National Park. Every August 12th, the hamlet of Balzo, the seat of the municipality and capital of Montegallo, transforms into a large open-air market: stalls, stands, and producers fill the streets and squares of the village, offering the best of the craftsmanship and gastronomy of these mountains.

Where and when

The fair is held in the hamlet of Balzo (CAP 63094), in the Municipality of Montegallo, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region. The event is traditionally set for August 12th, with stalls set up from the early morning hours and activities continuing until early afternoon. For safety and traffic reasons, the Municipality issues a specific ordinance each year regulating traffic closures and parking in the fair area.

Products of the Sibillini

The heart of the event is the typical products of the territory. Among the stalls, you can find the flavours that have made this area of the Marche Apennines famous:

• the ciauscolo, the soft spreadable salami symbol of the Piceno area;
• mountain cheeses and cured meats from local butcher shops;
• high-altitude legumes, first and foremost the famous lentil grown on the plateaus of the Sibillini;
• honey, jams, undergrowth products, and traditional sweets;
• objects of local craftsmanship, wood carvings, and handmade creations.

A village born from the castle

Montegallo is a scattered municipality, formed by numerous small hamlets spread at the foot of the Vettore massif. Balzo, today the capital, was founded around 1500 when the inhabitants moved down to the valley from the ancient Castello di Santa Maria in Gallo, reusing much of its sandstone. This mountain history, made of pastoralism, agriculture, and community, is still told today by the fair, which keeps alive the connection between the valley's producers and visitors.

Why go

The Fiera di Balzo is the perfect opportunity for those spending their summer in the Sibillini Mountains: a break from the hiking schedule to discover the authentic flavours of the Marche mountains, shop among the artisans' stalls, and breathe in the genuine atmosphere of a village festival that is renewed every year around Ferragosto.