Grape and Wine Festival – Palio dei Rioni

The grape festival of Vezzano Ligure

The Grape and Wine Festival – Palio dei Rioni is the big September festival in Vezzano Ligure, a hillside village in the province of La Spezia, behind the Poets' Gulf. With over sixty years of history, it celebrates ripe grapes and wine, two symbolic products of Ligurian peasant tradition, with the streets of the historic center decorated thematically and enlivened by stands and tasting corners.

The Palio dei Rioni

The soul of the festival is the rivalry between the districts of the town, who compete in four contests: the dialect text challenge, the decoration of the districts with flowers, grapes, and flags, the costume parade, and the grape harvesters' race. In the latter, six members per district compete in barefoot grape treading: one contestant fills the basket with grapes to be taken to the barrel, while others tread for a few minutes. A spectacular competition that recalls the ancient gestures of the grape harvest.

Flavors and music

At the stands, you can taste Ligurian cuisine: focaccia, testaroli with pesto, vegetable pies, local cured meats and cheeses, accompanied by local wines such as Vermentino, Pigato, and Ciliegiolo. There is also live music, folk performances, street artists, and traditional craft exhibitions, in a festive atmosphere that involves the entire village.

Tradition and territory

Recognized among the Authentic Ligurian Events funded by the Region, the festival is a living expression of Vezzano Ligure's identity and its connection to the vine. For those visiting the Poets' Gulf, it is an opportunity to discover the hinterland of La Spezia and a still authentic popular tradition.