Lunzon
The traditional dinner that marks the end of Carnival in Borgomanero
About Lunzon
Lunzon, a tradition lost in the mists of time
In Borgomanero, located in the heart of the Novara province and just a few kilometers from Lake Orta, Lunzon is much more than just a dinner: it is the ritual that concludes the Carnival. The local dialect term refers to the Monday before Shrove Tuesday, a day that has always represented the final opportunity for celebration before the start of Lent. In ancient times, those who wanted to enjoy the last moments of Carnival would gather to dance, feast, and share food, awaiting the period of silence and meditation that would follow.
Dinner in the town center restaurants
Today, Lunzon lives on thanks to the Borgomanero Municipal Administration and the Department of Commerce, which involve the city's restaurateurs every year. For one evening, participating venues offer a fixed-price menu built around traditional Borgomanero dishes. It is an initiative that combines the rediscovery of local customs with support for the local restaurant industry, inviting residents and visitors alike to share the same table.
The flavors of Borgomanero cuisine
The stars of Lunzon are the city's signature dishes:
- Tapulone: a stew of minced donkey meat cooked in red wine, the true gastronomic emblem of Borgomanero. Popular tradition links it to the legend of the thirteen pilgrims who supposedly founded the village and, overcome by hunger, sacrificed the donkey from their cart.
- Paniscia: the famous Novara-style rice with beans, salam d'la duja (local salami), and vegetables, often "dressed in red" with tomato—a rustic, deeply satisfying dish.
- Traditional cured meats, cheeses, and desserts, accompanied by wines from the Novara hills.
Carnival at the table
Lunzon features no floats or parades: it is an intimate, gastronomic celebration experienced in restaurant dining rooms and the convivial atmosphere of the historic center. For those visiting Piedmont, it is the ideal opportunity to discover the culinary identity of Borgomanero and to understand how, in this corner of the Novara province, Carnival concludes not with noise, but with the pleasure of good food.
Lunzon — edition 2026
Lunzon 2026
On Monday, February 16, 2026, Borgomanero celebrated Lunzon, the traditional dinner that marks the end of Carnival. Driven by the Municipal Administration and the Department of Commerce, participating restaurants offered a fixed-price menu of traditional dishes at a cost of 25 euros (excluding drinks), rediscovering the flavors of local cuisine in anticipation of Lent.
Among the establishments that joined the initiative were historic venues and local trattorias such as Bocciofila dell'Osteria, Da Baffo, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, Hostaria Orcobacco, L'Oca sul palo, Osteria Mea Culpa, Paniga Gourmet, Ristorante Aromi, Ristorante Pais, Trattoria dei Commercianti, Trattoria del Ciclista, and Trattoria Tiro a Segno.
Programme Lunzon 2026
The Lunzon evening
Lunzon is held as one large evening event spread across the restaurants in the center of Borgomanero. Each participating venue offers its own fixed-price menu for 25 euros (excluding drinks) based on traditional Borgomanero dishes, with tapulone and paniscia as the stars.
- Where: in participating restaurants and trattorias in the town center.
- When: the evening of Monday, February 16, 2026.
- Reservation: recommended directly with the chosen venue.
Among the venues participating in the 2026 edition: Bocciofila dell'Osteria, Da Baffo, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, Hostaria Orcobacco, L'Oca sul palo, Osteria Mea Culpa, Paniga Gourmet, Ristorante Aromi, Ristorante Pais, Trattoria dei Commercianti, Trattoria del Ciclista, and Trattoria Tiro a Segno.
Highlights Lunzon 2026
Prices Lunzon 2026
Practical information — Lunzon
When
Lunzon takes place on the Monday before Shrove Tuesday. The 2026 edition was held on Monday, February 16, 2026.
How to participate
The dinner takes place in participating restaurants in the center of Borgomanero, featuring a fixed-price menu of traditional dishes. Reservations are recommended directly with the chosen venue. An updated list of participating restaurants is published on the Borgomanero municipal website (www.comune.borgomanero.no.it).
How to get there
Borgomanero is easily accessible by car via the A26 motorway (Borgomanero exit) and by train on the Novara-Domodossola line. It is approximately 30 km from Novara and is located near Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.
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Where does it take place — Lunzon
Ristoranti del centro di Borgomanero