Frispolo and Beer Festival

The summer festival of Santena

The Frispolo and Beer Festival is a staple of the Santena summer: a popular gastronomic event organized by the Santena E20 Association with the patronage of the City of Santena, in the Province of Turin, in the heart of Piedmont. Established in 2017, the festival has won over a loyal audience over the years thanks to its simple and genuine atmosphere, featuring outdoor tables, live music, and specialties to enjoy in good company.

What is frispolo

The frispolo is the specialty that gives the festival its name: a bread and pizza dough that is not baked in an oven but fried, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, to be filled and paired as you like. Behind the name lies a legend invented by the association, inspired by an expression dear to a well-known local newsagent and even referencing the ancient Battle of Gamenario of 1345. During the festival, the frispolo is offered in different versions, each dedicated to a hamlet or district of Santena — such as Tetti Giro, Taggia, Case Nuove, Gamenario, Carolina, Centro, and Chiosco Verde — a fun way to celebrate the territory and its communities.

The atmosphere of the riverbank area

The festival takes place in the riverbank area of Santena, at the Chiosco Verde, an open-air green space along the river, ideal for summer evenings. Doors usually open around 7:30 PM, and the kitchen offers, in addition to the frispolo variations, french fries and plenty of beer. To make the evenings even livelier, there is live music, with DJ sets and bands animating the stage until late at night.

A festival made by people

Behind the event is the volunteer work of dozens of people: the Santena E20 Association, largely driven by female volunteers, coordinates a team of volunteers every year who take care of the kitchen, service, and hospitality. It is a festival that tells the story of the community spirit of Santena, where friends and families meet to end a summer evening in joy, amidst the scent of fried food and the notes of music.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held in the month of July, spread over several evenings. Admission to the area is free, and you only pay for what you consume, according to the best tradition of Piedmontese village festivals.