La Sfrappolata

La Sfrappolata, Dozza's Delicious Carnival

La Sfrappolata is the festival that every year, during Carnival, enlivens Piazza Zotti, in the historic center of Dozza, a small municipality in the Metropolitan City of Bologna in Emilia-Romagna. The absolute star of the day is the sfrappola, the typical crispy fried dough strip covered in powdered sugar that characterizes the Emilian Carnival (known elsewhere as frappa, chiacchiera, or galano). For an entire Sunday, the village transforms into a large open-air workshop of seasonal sweets, in an atmosphere of popular celebration and conviviality.

A Community Tradition

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Dozza in collaboration with the Comitato delle Arzdore — the traditional "housekeepers" of Romagna and Emilia, guardians of the homemade pasta art — and with the local Alpini group. They are the ones who fry and serve the sfrappole throughout the day, in a collaboration between associations that is the true heart of the festival. La Sfrappolata thus originated as an authentic village event, far from mass tourism, where local volunteers keep alive a recipe that Italian gastronomic historiography has documented since the second half of the sixteenth century.

What to Eat

In addition to the unmissable sfrappole, the food stalls offer other typical Carnival sweets, Romagnole piadine, roasted chestnuts, and mulled wine to warm up on still-wintery days. A simple and popular offering, designed to be enjoyed while strolling through the village streets.

Dozza, the Painted Village

La Sfrappolata is also an excellent opportunity to visit Dozza, recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and famous worldwide as the "painted village": since 1960, the facades of the houses in the historic center have hosted murals from the Biennale del Muro Dipinto, transforming the town into an open-air museum with over a hundred contemporary artworks. Perched on the Bolognese hills just a few kilometers from Imola, Dozza houses the Regional Wine Bar of Emilia-Romagna in the cellars of its Rocca Sforzesca, with hundreds of local labels. Between sfrappole, wine, and murals, the Carnival day becomes a journey into the taste and beauty of the Emilia-Romagna hinterland.

Entertainment and Shows

The festival is not just about food: in the afternoon, there is an entertainment event designed especially for children and families, with a magic and clowning show that brings color and laughter to the stalls. A program accessible to all, making La Sfrappolata an ideal event for a family day trip during Carnival.