Peasant Soup Festival in Montramito — La Gulfa

The country festival of La Gulfa

The Peasant Soup Festival takes place in La Gulfa, a small locality within the village of Montramito, in the municipality of Massarosa (Lucca province, Tuscany). For four consecutive weekends between June and July, the festival grounds come alive every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the food stalls and dance evenings that have made this event a classic of the Versilia hills summer.

Organized by the volunteers of Massarosa Calcio, the festival combines a passion for hearty country food with the pleasure of gathering together. It is more than just a food festival: it is a collective ritual that, for nearly forty years, has marked the start of summer for the residents of Montramito, Bozzano, Quiesa, and the entire plain surrounding Lake Massaciuccoli.

Zuppa alla frantoiana, the star of the table

The signature dish is the zuppa alla frantoiana, the famous vegetable, legume, and stale bread soup of the Lucca tradition, drizzled with fresh oil from local mills. Alongside the soup, the kitchen offers a selection of authentic Tuscan dishes:

• Cappelletti with meat sauce and paccheri with octopus ragù
• Spaghetti with clams and cuttlefish in inzimino, a tribute to the nearby Versilia coast
• Torte coi becchi and bomboloni with a hole, traditional Lucca desserts

The kitchens open every evening at 7:30 PM, with the option to reserve tables and a bar and beer garden service offering cold beers and cocktails.

Ballroom dancing, tombola, and fun for everyone

After dinner, from 9:00 PM, the dance floor becomes the heart of the party: you can dance the liscio (traditional ballroom) with the best local orchestras, and there is also a space for Latin American dancing. Every evening features a tombola with great prizes, while the little ones have access to a children's area with inflatables. The large, free parking area makes the festival easy to reach for families from all over the area.

A tradition of the Massarosa plain

The Peasant Soup Festival is part of the rich calendar of summer festivals in Massarosa, which enliven the local villages for months. Throughout the year, La Gulfa in Montramito also hosts the Fish Festival and the Porcini Mushroom Festival, a testament to a community that makes food and village celebrations a core part of its identity. For those visiting Versilia, this festival is the perfect opportunity to discover the most authentic side of Tuscany, far from the crowded beaches and nestled in the hills between Lucca and the sea.