Naturale! – Earth Market of the Novara Hills
A slow weekend in Cureggio celebrating biodiversity, fine food, and rural culture
About Naturale! Cureggio
A slow weekend in the Novara Hills
Naturale! is a food and nature festival held every spring in the village of Cureggio, in the province of Novara, nestled in the Piedmontese Novara Hills. Organized by the Slow Food Colline Novaresi convivium and the Cureggio Pro Loco, with the support of the local municipality, the ATL Terre dell'Alto Piemonte, and Unpli Novara, the initiative aims to promote biodiversity, short supply chains, and small-scale local producers.
The Slow Food Earth Market
The heart of the event is the Earth Market, part of the international Slow Food network promoting 'good, clean, and fair' food. Under the vaults of the stunning Antica Pieve in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, over twenty small producers and food artisans offer seasonal products at fair prices: fresh produce, cheeses, rice, honey, saffron, bread, craft beers, jams, and local specialties. It is a unique opportunity to meet the growers and producers, rediscovering the direct link between those who produce and those who consume.
Hikes, gastronomy, and culture
Naturale! is more than just a market: the program features hikes through the hills along the Cammino delle Colline Novaresi, cooking demonstrations with local chefs, bread-making workshops, children's entertainment, exhibitions, and lectures. The gourmet aperitif at the Pieve, accompanied by live jazz, is a highlight, celebrating local wines and hill-country cuisine. Saturday is dedicated to hiking and exploring historical heritage, including visits to the Romanesque Baptistery, while Sunday is the main market day.
A free event for the whole family
Admission to the festival is free. Naturale! is designed for families, food enthusiasts, hikers, and anyone looking to spend a day outdoors surrounded by authentic flavors, nature, and culture. It is an event that highlights the rural identity of Cureggio and the entire Novara Hills area.
Naturale! Cureggio — edition 2026
The sixth edition of Naturale! brought Cureggio to life over the weekend of May 9-10, 2026, confirming the event as one of the most anticipated slow food gatherings in the Novara Hills. Organized by the Slow Food Colline Novaresi convivium and the Cureggio Pro Loco, with the support of the municipality and regional partners, the edition offered a packed program of nature, gastronomy, and culture. The heart of the event was the Sunday Earth Market, featuring over twenty small producers, a cooking show by chef Matteo Gioria, and numerous workshops, all with free admission.
Programme Naturale! Cureggio 2026
Saturday, May 9
- 15:00-19:00 — The Cammino delle Colline Novaresi: circular hike towards the Castellazzo hill (approx. 2 hours), with an inauguration at the Pieve attended by Mayor Angelo Barbaglia, a guided tour of the Baptistery with video mapping by Angela Guglielmetti, and a stop with winemaker Mattia Giustina.
- 19:00 — Gourmet aperitif at the Pieve on the theme of "the hill, wines and cuisine," featuring live jazz by Marco Maestri, dishes by chefs Claudio Picozzi and Umberto Savoini, and the presentation of the "Il Castellazzo" Nebbiolo by Casa Verde Orto Biologico.
Sunday, May 10
Earth Market from 10:00 to 19:00 in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, with over twenty local producers.
- 10:15 — Official inauguration.
- 10:00-18:00 — Cooking show by chef Matteo Gioria; asparagus risotto and beer at 12:00 and 13:30.
- 10:00-19:00 — Children's entertainment: face painting and creative workshops (15:00-17:00).
- 14:30-18:00 — "Scorci Naturali" exhibition by Dino and Lara Zapelloni.
- 15:30 — Lecture "Bread: Food for Immortality. The Roman Necropolis of Cureggio" by Angela Guglielmetti.
- 16:30-17:30 — Bread-making workshop "Il tuo Pan Bauletto" (€25, max 20 spots).
Highlights Naturale! Cureggio 2026
- Earth Market with over twenty small producers from the Novara Hills.
- Cooking show by chef Matteo Gioria, featuring asparagus risotto and beer.
- Cammino delle Colline Novaresi hike with a visit to the Baptistery and video mapping.
- Gourmet aperitif at the Pieve with live jazz and the presentation of the "Il Castellazzo" Nebbiolo.
Prices Naturale! Cureggio 2026
Practical information — Naturale! Cureggio
Location
Antica Pieve di Cureggio, Piazza Giovanni XXIII, 28060 Cureggio (NO), Piedmont. The market takes place within the Pieve and the adjacent square.
How to get there
By car: Cureggio is easily reached from the A26 motorway (Borgomanero exit). By train: the nearest station is Borgomanero, on the Novara–Domodossola line, located about 3 km from Cureggio.
Admission and bookings
Free entry to the market. Some activities (hikes, aperitifs, workshops) require booking and may involve a participation fee. For information, contact the Slow Food Colline Novaresi convivium or the Cureggio Pro Loco.
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Where does it take place — Naturale! Cureggio
Antica Pieve di Cureggio
Piazza Giovanni XXIII, 28060 Cureggio