Pertengo Carnival Bean Stew – Borghi in Maschera

The Pertengo Carnival and its bean stew

In Pertengo, a town in the rice-growing plains of the Province of Vercelli (Piedmont), Carnival has a distinct aroma: that of beans slow-cooked in large cauldrons. The bean stew is the heart of the festival, a traditional peasant dish that has brought residents together for generations in Piazza Silvio Piola, the village's open-air living room named after the famous footballer who hailed from Pertengo.

The Partanghin and Partanghina masks

The stars of the day are the local masks, Partanghin and Partanghina, who embody the spirit of the village and accompany the most cherished moments of the celebration. Following the carnival ritual, the mayor symbolically hands them the keys to the town: for one day, the village falls into the cheerful and carefree hands of the Carnival. The morning also features historical masks from the lower Vercelli area, including Bicciolano and Bella Majin, iconic figures of the Vercelli Carnival who travel from village to village throughout the season.

A revived tradition

The Pertengo bean stew is organized by the Comitato Pertengo e i suoi Eventi, a group of volunteers who brought this tradition back to life and are dedicated to preserving it. The stew is distributed for a voluntary donation: in true village spirit, participants are simply asked to bring their own containers to enjoy the steaming stew in the square or take it home.

Part of Borghi in Maschera

The Pertengo festival is part of Borghi in Maschera, a large, widespread Carnival network connecting dozens of towns in the Borghi delle Vie d'Acqua (Waterways Villages) of the Vercelli area, linked by the region's canals and rivers (the Cavour Canal, the Po, the Dora Baltea, and the Sesia). It is considered one of the most extensive decentralized carnivals in Piedmont: instead of a single large city parade, it offers a calendar spanning the entire plain with parades, bean stews, dances, and costumed processions. Pertengo traditionally kicks off this long festive season alongside the neighboring town of Pezzana.

Why it is worth visiting

• The authentic bean stew, cooked according to local tradition.
• Meeting the Partanghin and Partanghina masks and the historical figures of the Vercelli area.
• The genuine atmosphere of a village Carnival, far from the crowds of big cities.
• The opportunity to discover the small towns of the lower Vercelli area and their culture tied to water and rice.