Miacciata in piazza in Boccioleto

The miaccia festival in the heart of Valsesia

The Miacciata in piazza is one of the most cherished events of the summer in Boccioleto, a small mountain village in the Upper Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, in the heart of the Piedmontese Alps. Part of the rich Summer in Boccioleto calendar, the day celebrates the miaccia (plural miacce), one of the most iconic gastronomic specialties of the entire valley, prepared and served directly in the square before the eyes of visitors.

What is a miaccia?

The miaccia is a very thin, crispy wafer, a distant relative of the crêpe but with a unique flavor and texture all its own. The basic batter is simple: white flour, sometimes mixed with cornmeal, milk, cream, and a pinch of salt, with variations in some side valleys that add eggs. The real secret is the cooking tool, the characteristic wafer iron: two heavy metal discs hinged at one end and fitted with long handles, which are heated and filled with batter to create the perfect wafer. Miacce have their roots in the 16th century, when their ancestor, the migliaccio, was made with millet flour: 16th-century Valsesian notarial documents already mention the ferrum ad facendum miliacia.

The day and the dance evening

During the Miacciata in piazza, volunteers from the Pro Loco of Boccioleto cook the miacce in front of the public, offering them in the most traditional versions, from savory (with local cold cuts and cheeses) to sweet. The tasting is accompanied by the festive atmosphere typical of Valsesian village fairs, filled with conversation, conviviality, and local products. In the evening, the party continues with dancing: live music by Elisa Pisotti enlivens the square and invites young and old to stay until late, following a tradition of dances and evening parties deeply rooted in the Piedmontese mountain villages.

A highlight of Summer in Boccioleto

The Miacciata takes place in the middle of the summer season, when the Boccioleto calendar is packed with events: from mountain running races to masses and patronal feasts in hamlets like Fervento and Alpe Seccio, to musical evenings. For those choosing the Upper Valsesia as a holiday destination, the Miacciata in piazza is the ideal opportunity to discover a unique local flavor and experience the authentic atmosphere of a mountain village.

• Where: In the square, in Boccioleto (VC), Upper Valsesia
• What: Tasting of Valsesian miacce + dance evening
• When: In the second half of August, as part of Summer in Boccioleto