Meugliano Carnival Bean Festival

The fagiolata, the soul of the Canavese Carnival

In the small mountain village of Meugliano, part of the municipality of Valchiusa (Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont), Carnival is not measured in floats and confetti, but in the aroma rising from large copper cauldrons: that of the fagiolata. This is the tradition that draws residents of the Valchiusella valley and passing visitors every year during the Carnival season.

A Piedmontese tradition that stands the test of time

The fagiolata is an institution throughout Piedmont, particularly in the Canavese region. It is a humble dish of peasant origin, prepared with dried beans (Saluggia or Borlotti), rolled pork rinds, salami, and cotechino, all slow-cooked for hours until the flavors meld perfectly. Just before Shrove Tuesday, at village festivals, people line up in front of gazebos to receive a hot, steaming portion, often in exchange for a small donation to support community activities.

A community celebration in Meugliano

In Meugliano, the event is organized by local associations, primarily the Pro Loco, which also enlivens the village with the famous Autumn Pumpkin Festival and the Patronal Feast of Saint Bartholomew. The Carnival fagiolata represents the winter highlight of this community life: an opportunity to meet, warm up, and share a dish that speaks of roots, mountains, and collective memory.

In the mountains of Valchiusella

Meugliano is located about 45 kilometers north of Turin, in one of the most evocative and lesser-known valleys of the Canavese. Reaching the village for the fagiolata means immersing yourself in an alpine landscape of forests, meadows, and ancient stone buildings, where traditions are still passed down from generation to generation.

• When: During the Carnival period, on the Sunday dedicated to the festival
• Where: Meugliano, village of Valchiusa (TO)
• What: Distribution of the traditional fagiolata with pork rinds and salami
• Spirit: A popular, convivial, and charitable village festival

A small but authentic event, perfect for those who want to discover the most genuine Canavese Carnival, far from the crowds and close to the people.