Pici Festival in Celle sul Rigo

The Pici Festival in Celle sul Rigo

In the heart of the Val d'Orcia, in the village of Celle sul Rigo, a hamlet of the municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni in the Province of Siena, one of the most heartfelt and popular local festivals returns every year at the end of May: the Pici Festival. The event is entirely organized by the Celle sul Rigo Philharmonic Society, and rallies the entire community, which works for days to hand-prepare thousands of portions of the signature dish of Sienese cuisine.

Pici, a dish with ancient roots

Pici are a type of long, thick, and irregular spaghetti, strictly hand-rolled. Their origins are very ancient and likely rooted in the Etruscan tradition. Traditionally prepared with only water and flour, without eggs, they are served with classic local condiments: the famous aglione sauce, made with oil, sweet garlic, chili, tomato paste, and tomatoes, or a richer meat ragù. It is precisely around this humble and identity-defining dish that the entire festival revolves.

A tradition renewed every year

The Pici Festival is a long-standing event, with its first edition dating back to 1969. Over the years, it has become a fixed date on the calendar of spring Tuscan festivals, capable of attracting visitors from all over Tuscany and neighboring regions. The bond with the local Philharmonic Society is very strong: the proceeds from the festival support the band's activities, the true cultural engine of Celle sul Rigo.

Atmosphere and music

Beyond the food, the Pici Festival offers evenings of conviviality with live music and the unmissable performances of the bands. The most anticipated moment is the final day, when concerts by the Celle sul Rigo Philharmonic Band and guest groups alternate in an atmosphere of popular celebration that involves both young and old. The village, perched at an altitude of about 600 meters among the hills of the Val d'Orcia, provides the ideal setting for a genuine event rooted in the territory.

An event to experience in the Val d'Orcia

Participating in the Pici Festival means discovering an authentic corner of the less touristy Tuscany, where culinary tradition is still a community affair. San Casciano dei Bagni, also known for its thermal waters and the extraordinary archaeological discoveries of recent years, welcomes visitors in a setting of rare landscape beauty. The festival is the perfect opportunity to combine a good plate of pici with the discovery of the Val d'Orcia villages.