Pastrignocchi and Cuculo Festival

The June long weekend festival in Cetona

Every year, during the Republic Day long weekend, the village of Cetona, in the province of Siena, comes alive with music and enticing aromas for the Pastrignocchi and Cuculo Festival. It is one of those celebrations that captures the spirit of a town better than any guidebook: the main square turned into a long communal table, wooden benches side-by-side, Pro Loco stands bustling until late, and orchestras keeping everyone dancing. Cetona is one of the most beautiful villages in the Sienese Valdichiana, perched at the foot of the mountain of the same name, and during the festival, it reveals its most convivial side.

Two dishes, two stories of peasant cuisine

The heart of the festival lies in two traditional Cetona specialties. Pastrignocchi are a type of pasta typical of this land, rolled and cut just as they were in country homes long ago: simple, hearty, and served with traditional sauces. The cuculo, on the other hand, is a sweet biscuit made with humble ingredients, common in the lower Sienese province. Its name has a curious origin: it was the snack that harvesters carried to the fields when, with the arrival of the summer heat, the cuckoo (cuculo) began to sing its characteristic call. Alongside these two stars, the food stands offer grilled meat and other local delicacies.

Dinners in the square and dance nights

The format follows the best village festival traditions: every evening, starting at 7:30 PM, dinner is served in Piazza Garibaldi, with lunches also available on public holidays. After dinner, the square turns into a dance floor, with a different orchestra each night playing everything from ballroom classics to upbeat dance music. The village is also animated by daytime events: the Mille Miglia motorcycle parade, flag-wavers and drummers, religious services, and local sports memorials.

A village to discover around the festival

Attending the festival is also the perfect excuse to explore Cetona, a medieval village clustered around its fortress and the beautiful Piazza Garibaldi, with its narrow alleys and sweeping views of the Valdichiana. The event, organized with great care by the Pro Loco of Cetona with the support of the Municipality, has grown over time to become one of the most anticipated gastronomic events in southern Tuscany, successfully blending the rediscovery of local flavors with the joy of community.