Prugnolo Mushroom Festival

The Prugnolo Festival in Firenzuola

In the heart of the Alto Mugello, just a few kilometers from the border with Emilia-Romagna, the town of Firenzuola (Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany) dedicates a festival every year entirely to the Prugnolo, one of the most sought-after and fragrant mushrooms that grow in the meadows and woods of this Apennine area. For decades, the Prugnolo Festival has been one of the most cherished gastronomic events in the region: not just an opportunity for good food, but above all a moment of community.

A rare mushroom, a local tradition

The Prugnolo (often simply called "the May mushroom" in the local dialect) is a spring mushroom with a delicate and unmistakable flavor, closely linked to the pastures and woods of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Its harvest is short and unpredictable, making it a precious product: this is why Firenzuola dedicates a festival to it that attracts enthusiasts and curious visitors from neighboring towns and the city every year.

What to eat

The absolute star is the Prugnolo, featured in many traditional Mugello recipes:

• Crostini with Prugnolo as an appetizer
• Potato tortelli, the iconic first course of the Mugello, seasoned with the mushroom
• Tagliolini with Prugnolo
• Scaloppine as a main course
• Ficattole served with cold cuts, available throughout the event

Sports, volunteering, and community

The festival is organized by S.S.D. Firenzuola, the local amateur sports club, created to promote sports, social gathering, and community values. The proceeds from the festival support sports and social activities aimed at children, teenagers, and families. The heart of the event is volunteering: many of the town's young people get involved in the kitchen and at the tables, learning collaboration and the spirit of service. The Municipality of Firenzuola, the Alpini, the Misericordia, and numerous local associations also contribute to the success of the event.

Where and when

The food stalls are located at the festival area in Largo Garibaldi 3, in the center of Firenzuola. The event takes place over two consecutive weekends between late May and early June, with dinner service every evening and lunch service on Sundays. The event takes place even in case of rain, as it is covered.

The Prugnolo Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover Firenzuola and the Alto Mugello, a land of forests, trails, and pietra serena stone, far from the most crowded tourist routes of Tuscany.