Marzuolo Truffle and Cinta Senese Festival

A festival dedicated to the Marzuolo truffle

Every year in March, the Contrada San Bartolomeo a Paterno, a district of Castelfranco di Sotto in the province of Pisa, hosts the Marzuolo Truffle and Cinta Senese Festival. It is one of the most anticipated spring festivals in the leather district along the Arno river, held over three consecutive weekends in the heart of Tuscany.

The festival takes its name from the Marzuolo truffle (also known as the 'bianchetto'), which matures and is harvested precisely in March. This subterranean fungus has an intense aroma and is typical of the Tuscan hills and the truffle-rich areas around San Miniato, just a few kilometers from Castelfranco di Sotto. The other great star is the Cinta Senese, an ancient Tuscan pig breed with a dark coat and a characteristic white belt, raised semi-wild and a symbol of high-quality charcuterie.

Traditional dishes

The festival menu is a tribute to Tuscan peasant cuisine, with the Marzuolo truffle as the guest of honor. Specialties include:

• Truffle tagliolini and truffle ravioli
• Truffle eggs
• Tagliolini with Cinta Senese ragù
• Truffle-topped Cinta steak and beef steak
• Tuscan-style tripe

Dishes are paired with local wines and served with the warm hospitality of the district's volunteers. Takeaway service and a children's menu are available, making the festival perfect for the whole family.

A community gathering

The Marzuolo Truffle and Cinta Senese Festival is organized by the Contrada San Bartolomeo a Paterno and offers a chance to experience the authentic spirit of village festivals in the lower Valdarno area. Beyond the excellent food, the event is a meeting point for the local community and visitors who travel through Tuscany at this time of year in search of truffles and the genuine flavors of the Pisan and Sienese traditions.

Castelfranco di Sotto, with its medieval grid-pattern urban layout, is a village in the province of Pisa worth visiting even outside of the festival—an ideal stop for those wanting to combine a gourmet experience with the discovery of Tuscany's heritage.