Peasant Festival of Verolavecchia
Brescian spit roast and rural traditions at Villa Alghisi Montini
About Peasant Festival
A festival that tells the story of the Brescian countryside
The Peasant Festival of Verolavecchia is the celebration that honours the rural roots of this municipality in the Bassa Bresciana, in the province of Brescia. Organized by the Pro Loco of Verolavecchia, it brings the community together around the traditions of the past: farm work, peasant cuisine, and folk games.
Villa Alghisi Montini, an exceptional setting
The event takes place at Villa Alghisi Montini, a historic residence in Verolavecchia linked to the Montini family and known for having been the summer residence of Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini). The villa, with its park, offers a setting that combines historical memory and a festive atmosphere.
The spit roast, the absolute star
The heart of the festival is the Brescian spit roast competition: teams start cooking at dawn, and a jury declares the winners. The dish, a symbol of the local cuisine, is then served for lunch. Surrounding the spit roast are the exhibition of farming tools, the traditional dessert competition, old-fashioned games, and folk music, in a day designed for families and the curious.
Peasant Festival — edition 2026
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Villa Alghisi Montini hosts a new edition of the Peasant Festival of Verolavecchia. The spit roast competition starts in the early morning hours; mid-day features the exhibition of farming tools and the traditional dessert competition, followed by lunch with spit roast. In the afternoon, old-fashioned games and folk music liven up the villa's park.
Programme Peasant Festival 2026
Program along the lines of previous editions (indicative times, pending final confirmation):
- From early morning — start of the Brescian spit roast competition among the teams.
- Late morning — exhibition of farming tools and traditional dessert competition.
- Noon — lunch with spit roast.
- Afternoon — old-fashioned games and folk music in the park of Villa Alghisi Montini.
Highlights Peasant Festival 2026
Prices Peasant Festival 2026
Practical information — Peasant Festival
How to get there
Verolavecchia is located in the Bassa Bresciana, about 30 km south-west of Brescia, along the Oglio river. It is easily reachable by car from the provincial roads in the area.
When
One Sunday in May (May 17, 2026), with the spit roast competition starting early in the morning.
Lunch
Fixed-price spit roast lunch; free entry to the festival. Info: Pro Loco Verolavecchia ([email protected]).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Peasant Festival
Villa Alghisi Montini
Villa Alghisi Montini, 25029 Verolavecchia