Palazzo del Pero Mushroom Festival

A festival brought back to life

The Palazzo del Pero Mushroom Festival is one of the most anticipated additions to the 2026 Arezzo festival calendar. After a sixteen-year absence, the event returns to animate Palazzo del Pero, a village in the Municipality of Arezzo nestled in the Cerfone valley, known as Valcerfone, halfway between the city of Arezzo and the Valtiberina area. It marks the return of an event that, in its golden age, drew visitors from across the province and beyond.

The porcini mushroom, the star of the territory

The heart of the festival is the porcini mushroom, which finds an exceptional habitat in this corner of Tuscany: the unique microclimate of Valcerfone, with its woods, humidity, and fertile soil, produces high-quality porcini. For three days, the mushroom becomes the common thread of a traditional menu served at the food stands set up by local associations: tagliatelle and pasta dishes with porcini, as well as main courses and side dishes based on mushrooms, all accompanied by the genuine flavors of Arezzo's rustic cuisine.

A community festival in Valcerfone

More than just a major event, the 2026 edition was born as a grassroots village festival. The idea, as described by the organizers themselves, is to unite the various associations of the village and host the festival at the local social club, which has recently regained its vitality. As one of the promoters explained, it won't be the massive event of sixteen years ago: they are starting small, with the goal of growing over time and restoring identity to the entire valley by reviving one of the historic events of this part of the Arezzo territory.

When and where

The Mushroom Festival takes place on the second weekend of September: for 2026, the announced dates are Friday, September 11th, Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, September 13th. In the calendar of festivals in the province of Arezzo, it is positioned as one of the last events of the summer, between the Festa della Dea in Venere and the Polenta Festival in Rigutino. As this is a comeback managed by volunteers, dates and programs may be subject to change: it is advisable to check for updates on the village's official channels before setting off.

Why it's worth the trip

For those who love authentic festivals, far from large tourist crowds, the Palazzo del Pero Mushroom Festival is a precious opportunity: you can eat well, support a community that is getting back in the game, and discover an off-the-beaten-path corner of the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, where the porcini tradition is taken seriously. A small event with great emotional value, one to follow as it grows over the years.