Profummo de Baxaicò - Pra' Basil Festival

The basil festival in its homeland

If there is a place in Liguria where basil is a matter of identity, that place is Pra', a district in western Genoa overlooking the sea. Here, on the terraced hills, PDO Genoese Basil has been cultivated for generations, the one with small leaves and an intense aroma, with no mint notes, which is the soul of true pesto. Profummo de Baxaicò (in Genoese, "the scent of basil") was created precisely to celebrate this product and the district that made it famous worldwide.

Three days in Piazza Sciesa

For an entire weekend, Piazza Sciesa becomes the center of the celebration. You'll find food stalls with Ligurian specialties, an agri-food market with local producers, and a program of concerts and DJ sets that liven up the evenings. It is a neighborhood event in the most authentic sense: born from the grassroots, built by the associations and merchants of Pra', with constant attention to the solidarity aspect.

The Golden Mortar and the culture of pesto

The most anticipated moment is the Golden Mortar competition, which in Pra' takes on a special value: it is one of the official qualifiers leading to the World Championship of Pesto Genovese made with Mortar and Pestle. Watching the competitors pound basil, pine nuts, garlic, and cheese with mortar and pestle is a small spectacle that tells centuries of gastronomic tradition.

Pra' a Pe' and the discovery of the territory

Alongside food and music, the festival offers cultural walks "Pra' a Pe'", which accompany visitors through the greenhouses, alleys, and glimpses of the district, to get to know the history of basil cultivation and the deep bond between Pra' and its symbolic product up close. The event, organized by the Consorzio Pro Loco Genova with the CIV Pra' Insieme, allocates part of the proceeds to support the Croce Verde Praese.