Pici and Lumacci Festival – Contrada Voltaia

The festival that kicks off the summer of the Contrade

The Pici and Lumacci Festival is a food festival organized by the Contrada di Voltaia, one of the historic districts of Piancastagnaio, a village on the Sienese side of Mount Amiata, in the province of Siena and the heart of southern Tuscany. Every year, in early July, this festival officially opens the "Contrade in Festa" calendar, a month of celebrations that leads the town up to the Palio della Madonna di San Pietro in August.

Pici and lumacci, the two stars

The heart of the festival lies in two traditional dishes from the Piancastagnaio and Amiata area. Pici are the typical handmade fresh pasta from the Siena region, robust and irregular, seasoned according to local recipes. Lumacci – snails stewed in the "Voltaiese" style, following a recipe jealously guarded by the Contrada – are the specialty that gives the festival its name and attracts visitors from far beyond the village walls.

Alongside these two signature dishes, the food stands offer Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses, grilled meats, and local wines, in a journey that highlights the flavors of the Amiata region and local peasant cuisine.

Streets and atmosphere

Tables are set up along Via XX Settembre and in the streets of the Voltaia district. The stands generally open in the evening, around 7 PM, for dinner: the medieval village of Piancastagnaio thus transforms into a large open-air dining room, amidst the stones of the historic center and the fresh mountain air.

Music and entertainment

• Concerts and live music every evening, with bands, tribute bands, and local groups
• DJ sets for younger crowds
• Animation and activities for children and families
• Sporting initiatives linked to district life, including the traditional bareback horse races that enliven the period

The Contrade and the Palio of Piancastagnaio

The Pici and Lumacci Festival is not an isolated event: it is the first appointment of "Contrade in Festa", the cycle that sees the other districts of the town – Borgo, Coro, and Castello – parade in the following weeks, each with its own food festival. Everything culminates with the Palio della Madonna di San Pietro, the race that renews the historic rivalry between the districts of Piancastagnaio in mid-August, following Tuscan popular traditions.

Visiting the festival means tasting the identity of an entire town: the passion of the district, the cuisine of the Amiata, and the pride of a community that has been renewing this early summer appointment for many years.