Fritter Festival

The oldest festival in Cartosio

The Fritter Festival is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of Cartosio, a small village in the Erro Valley, in the province of Alessandria and the heart of the Upper Monferrato, in Piedmont. Alongside the Autumn Chestnut Festival, it is the celebration that best captures the village's identity: a community of about eight hundred residents who gather around the cauldron every spring to fry the famous farsöi, the traditional local sweet and savoury fritters.

Farsöi: a recipe that smells of history

Legend has it that Cartosio's fritters were created to feed soldiers passing through the ancient valley routes. Passed down from family to family and brought back to the town square in the 1960s, the recipe for farsöi is now the village's gastronomic symbol: a simple, golden, and crispy batter, served in both sweet and savoury versions. During the festival, the lighting of the pans in Piazza Terracini marks the start of the celebrations, amidst the aroma of hot oil and the joy of the locals.

A village to discover in the shadow of the tower

The festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit Cartosio and its historic centre, dominated by the quadrangular tower built in the 10th century by the Asinari family. Restored and now open to visitors up to its panoramic terrace, the tower offers a 360-degree view of the village and the surrounding valley. Don't miss the late-Baroque church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, with its 19th-century frescoes, and the nearby sanctuary of the Madonna del Pallareto.

Programme and atmosphere

Alongside the fritters, the day comes alive with excursions in the surroundings, guided tours of the medieval tower, musical entertainment, and a convivial lunch organised by the Pro Loco. It is an authentic village festival, far from mass tourism, where conviviality and tradition remain the absolute protagonists.

• Where: Piazza Terracini, Cartosio (AL)
• Speciality: sweet and savoury farsöi (fritters)
• Organiser: Pro Loco di Cartosio
• Period: late May / early June (spring)

Why visit

Those looking for a genuine experience in Lower Piedmont will find much more than just a food festival in Cartosio: a well-preserved medieval village, rolling landscapes between the Monferrato and the Ligurian Apennines, and a community that opens its doors to visitors with old-fashioned generosity. Cartosio's fritters are the perfect excuse for a day trip to one of the most evocative valleys in the province of Alessandria.