Montelupone Artichoke Festival

One of the most beloved festivals in the Marche region

The Montelupone Artichoke Festival is one of the most heartfelt and long-standing food and wine events in the province of Macerata. Since its inception in 1961, it has accompanied the Marche spring, transforming the streets and squares of the medieval village of Montelupone into a grand culinary experience every May. The absolute star is the Montelupone Artichoke, a particularly tender local variety, thornless and with a delicate flavor, cultivated for generations in the countryside around the village.

A product to protect

The Montelupone artichoke is no ordinary vegetable: it has obtained the De.C.O. (Communal Designation of Origin) and has been recognized as a Slow Food Presidium, a seal that protects its uniqueness, traditional cultivation techniques, and its deep connection with the community that produces it. It is precisely this quality that makes the difference: during the festival, you can taste it in a thousand ways and, at the same time, buy it fresh directly from local producers.

What to eat

The food stalls set up in the historic center offer a complete journey around the artichoke: from appetizers to first courses, from main courses to side dishes, up to desserts and even ice cream. Among the most popular preparations are fried artichokes, Jewish-style artichokes, pinzimonio (raw vegetables with dip), and salads, alongside traditional recipes and more creative reinterpretations that enhance the vegetable along with other typical products of the Macerata area.

Not just taste

The festival is also an opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful villages in the Marche hinterland: between tastings, there is space for music, shows, and entertainment, as well as initiatives such as guided excursions among the artichoke fields in the weeks preceding the event. The organization is managed by the Pro Loco of Montelupone with the support of the Municipality, in a festive atmosphere that combines agricultural tradition and conviviality.

A village to discover

Visiting the festival also means discovering Montelupone, a municipality in the province of Macerata that preserves a compact and well-maintained historic center, with its town hall, arcades, and walls. The event is the ideal time to combine a passion for good food with the beauty of the Marche hilly landscape, just a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast.