Pomaia Popone Festival

The Popone Festival, a symbol of Pomaia's summer

Every year, on the first weekend of August, the small village of Pomaia, a hamlet of the municipality of Santa Luce in the province of Pisa, comes alive for the Popone Festival. The term "popone" is the local Tuscan word for melon, the star fruit of the summer season and the symbolic heart of this village festival that has been running for over forty years.

Organized by the Pomaia Cultural and Recreational Club with the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Luce, the festival is one of the most cherished events in the summer calendar of the Pisan hills. Along with the Baccello (Broad Bean) Festival held in the spring, it represents one of the two key moments when the Pomaia community gathers around good food and tradition.

Tuscan cuisine takes center stage

The true draw of the Popone Festival is the traditional Tuscan cuisine served at the local Recreational Club. The menu features rustic, farm-to-table, and coastal dishes prepared by the association's volunteers:

• Wild boar tagliatelle, a signature dish of the Tuscan hinterland
• Ribollita and traditional vegetable soups
• Salt cod and stockfish
• Mixed grill and meat main courses
• Homemade appetizers, side dishes, and desserts

Naturally, there is no shortage of popone—the melon that gives the festival its name—served at the end of the meal as a sweet, refreshing symbol of summer.

Music and conviviality

The two evenings of the festival are accompanied by live music and entertainment: dance orchestras, DJ sets, and performances liven up the square until late at night in a friendly, grassroots atmosphere. The festival is an opportunity for friends and families to meet, dance, and extend their dinner in good company, true to the authentic spirit of village festivals.

An authentic village celebration

The Popone Festival is the perfect example of the long tradition of Tuscan village festivals: no tourist pretenses, just an event curated by the local community that opens the doors of its village to anyone wishing to discover the flavors and hospitality of the province of Pisa. Admission is free, and the genuine atmosphere makes Pomaia, during these August days, an ideal stop for those seeking the most authentic side of Tuscany, the one found in the small towns of the hills.