Fragole e Frolere

The San Raffaele Cimena Strawberry Festival

Every spring, the small town of San Raffaele Cimena, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the heart of the Piedmontese hills overlooking the Po River, celebrates the fruit that brought it fame: the strawberry. Fragole e Frolere is the event that gives voice to this agricultural identity, bringing the scents, flavors, and customs of a rural tradition with deep local roots back to the town square.

Strawberries, a local excellence

The San Raffaele Cimena strawberries are officially recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT) of Piedmont. The area's horticultural vocation, favored by the fertile soils of the Po plain, has ancient roots: by the 19th century, fruit exports had grown significantly, and in 1953, a dedicated strawberry and cherry market was established in the town square. Since then, these local early-season fruits have reached the wholesale markets of Turin and Chivasso, building a reputation for a sweet, fragrant berry that remains the community's pride today.

The frolere and the historical pageant

The festival's name combines strawberries with the frolere—the women who, for generations, harvested and sold these fruits, serving as guardians of a craft and a memory that the event aims to pass on. The day is enriched by a procession of historical groups and costumed characters parading through the village streets, with the participation of local re-enactment associations. One of the most anticipated moments is the investiture of the Fragola Galucet, the festival's delicious mascot, accompanied by refreshments and entertainment for all ages.

An event for the whole family

Fragole e Frolere takes place in the village of San Raffaele Alto and offers tastings of fresh strawberries, desserts, and specialties prepared with the star fruit, as well as stalls featuring local products, music, and entertainment. It is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Piedmont, far from the main tourist circuits, where the village festival remains a genuine and welcoming community moment. The event is organized by the Pro Loco San Raffaele Cimena with the patronage of the Municipality and the collaboration of local associations.