Pansoto Festival of Mele

A festival that smells of authentic Liguria

Pansoto (or pansotti) is one of the most beloved dishes of Genoese tradition: a "plump" ravioli filled with wild herbs and prebuggiun, dressed with the famous walnut sauce. In Mele, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Genoa located along the Leira Valley a few kilometers from Voltri, this dish gives its name to the village festival organized by the Croce Verde Mele Public Assistance.

The return after four years

After a four-year hiatus, in July 2025 the festival returned to populate Piazza dell'Oratorio, in the center of the village, for three consecutive evenings. The initiative, strongly desired by the Croce Verde volunteers led by president Franco Pastorino, combines food with solidarity: the entire proceeds are destined for the purchase of medical supplies for the public assistance association, a fundamental resource for the valley area.

At the table and on the dance floor

The food stalls offer pansotti with walnut sauce as the absolute stars, alongside arrosticini, grilled meat, and sweet crepes. Every evening the square transforms into a dance floor with orchestras and traditional Ligurian groups. Since 2025, the festival has also been enriched by an amateur fun run, the "Sciuscia e Resccéuppa," which in the morning leads walkers and enthusiasts along the valley's trails.

Mele, gateway to the Genoese hinterland

Nestled among the woods climbing towards the Turchino Pass and the Beigua Park, the village of Mele preserves the memory of its ancient paper-making tradition. Today, the festival represents one of the community's most heartfelt gatherings, an opportunity to come together around the flavors of the past in the heart of the Province of Genoa.