Moretto Artichoke Festival

The Moretto Artichoke, Brisighella's Native Jewel

The Moretto Artichoke Festival is the spring event that the Municipality of Brisighella, in the province of Ravenna, dedicates to its most iconic product. The Moretto is a native artichoke that grows exclusively in the Brisighella area, particularly in the characteristic chalky gullies of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park, where the microclimate and sunny soils give it its unmistakable purplish color with golden reflections and its slightly bitter flavor.

It is a rustic variety, never subjected to genetic modifications, which has preserved its organoleptic characteristics intact over time. Small but intense, the Moretto is enjoyed raw or lightly boiled, preferably seasoned with the prized Brisighella extra virgin olive oil, another local excellence.

A Day in One of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages

For an entire Sunday in May, the historic center of Brisighella transforms into a culinary journey. Through the streets and squares of the village, dominated by the Manfrediana Fortress, the Clock Tower, and the evocative Via degli Asini (Donkey Street), you'll find food stalls, market stalls selling local products and traditional crafts, and spaces dedicated to local producers.

• Food stall with a themed menu entirely built around the Moretto;
• Market of local products and regional crafts;
• Stalls of local producers: from fresh Moretto artichokes to Mora Romagnola cured meats, cheeses, jams, and spring produce;
• Music, entertainment, and activities for families along the streets of the center.

The Moretto on the Table

The heart of the festival is naturally gastronomic. The village restaurants and the festival stalls offer dishes that reinterpret the artichoke in creative and traditional ways: seared scallops on a bed of raw Moretto and Brisighella oil, tagliolini with cuttlefish and Moretto, mezzelune (half-moon pasta) filled with Moretto and cheese, Moretto and goat cheese salad, tagliatelle with lamb ragù and Moretto, and even a surprising Moretto strudel.

A Product, a Landscape, an Identity

The Moretto Artichoke Festival is not just a gastronomic celebration; it's an opportunity to discover the deep connection between Brisighella, a village certified Cittaslow and awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club, and its unique landscape of gypsum and gullies. An event that tells the story of authentic Emilia-Romagna, with its rare products, short supply chains, and village traditions proudly preserved by the local community.