Picula Festival

The Picula Festival of San Pietro in Cerro

At the end of June, the village of San Pietro in Cerro, in the lower plains of the province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna), comes alive with one of the most cherished gastronomic festivals in the area: the Sagra d'la Picula. The event, organized by Pro Loco Il Cerro, takes place in the green setting of the Parco Comunale ex Barattieri and takes its name from the quintessential Piacenza dish, picula ad caval, around which four days of good food, music, and conviviality revolve.

What is picula ad caval

Picula ad caval is one of the symbolic dishes of Piacenza tradition: a stew of minced horse meat, slow-cooked with a soffritto of onion and garlic, deglazed with white wine, and flavored with tomato and, in some versions, peppers. The name, in Piacenza dialect, does not mean "small" but indicates a portion, a serving: born as a hearty and popular dish, it was once served in taverns to carters, workers, and market-goers. Traditionally, picula is always served with polenta and should be eaten fresh.

A village feast in the Terre Verdiane

The festival is much more than a gastronomic event: it is the village feast, linked to the celebrations of the patron saint and entirely supported by the work of Pro Loco volunteers. For four days, the park hosts gastronomic stands with picula and other Piacenza dishes, folk music dancing evenings with orchestras, markets, and numerous side events. The final day traditionally has a charitable nature, with proceeds going to the Pubblica Assistenza of Cortemaggiore.

What to expect

• Gastronomic stands with picula ad caval and the flavors of Piacenza tradition, open in the evenings and, on main days, also for lunch.
• Dancing evenings with folk orchestras and musical offerings for younger audiences, from 90s-2000s revival to live concerts.
• Cerrofil, a collectors' fair, and the "Sotto alle Stelle" Creative Market.
• The gathering of vintage tractors with a tour through the Terre Verdiane.

A territory to discover

San Pietro in Cerro is famous for its 16th-century Castle and is located in the heart of the Terre Verdiane, the Piacenza countryside linked to the memory of Giuseppe Verdi. The Sagra d'la Picula is therefore also an opportunity to discover this corner of the lower Po Valley, amidst rural tradition, good food, and village hospitality.