Hare Pappardelle and Fried Rabbit Festival

The Contrada La Croce Festival

The Hare Pappardelle and Fried Rabbit Festival is one of the most beloved gastronomic events of the summer in Buti, a small town in the province of Pisa nestled at the entrance of the Rio Magno Valley, at the foot of Monte Serra. It is organized by the Contrada La Croce (Case La Croce), one of the seven districts that compete every January in the historic Palio di Buti. The festival is a moment for the district to come together, with volunteers working in the kitchen to create a festive atmosphere that involves the entire town.

Hare pappardelle and fried rabbit

The heart of the event lies in two iconic dishes of Tuscan tradition. The pappardelle with hare ragù, featuring hand-rolled fresh pasta tossed in a rich, fragrant game sauce, and the fried rabbit, crispy and golden, described by the organizers themselves as "the Sunday recipe, grandmother's dish." Alongside these, you will find appetizers, other pasta dishes, grilled meats and sausages, roast poultry, craft beer, and desserts prepared especially for the occasion. It is country cooking in its most genuine form, served under the stars in the greenery of Parco Danielli.

A local village feast

The food stands, set up both indoors and outdoors, open every evening with table service, while a takeaway option allows you to bring the festival's dishes home. The atmosphere is that of a classic Tuscan village feast: shared tables, lively chatter until late, and background music accompanying the evenings. The festival is part of the rich calendar of summer events in Buti and Cascine di Buti, where local districts and associations take turns in the kitchen every weekend from June to September.

Buti and the Palio tradition

Visiting the festival is also an opportunity to discover Buti, a village tied to one of the oldest traditions in Tuscany: the Palio delle Contrade, a horse race held in January in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot, considered one of the oldest in Italy alongside those of Siena and Asti. The seven districts—including La Croce—animate the town's life all year round, and their summer festivals are their most delicious calling card. An authentic experience in the heart of the Terre di Pisa, far from the most crowded tourist circuits.