Raperonzolo Festival

An ancient root at the heart of the festival

The Raperonzolo Festival takes place every spring in San Giovanni in Galilea, a charming hilly hamlet in the Municipality of Borghi, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in the heart of Romagna. The absolute protagonist is the raperonzolo (Campanula rapunculus), a wild root with a delicate flavour that sprouts in spring in the shady soils and clay gullies of the hinterland. Known since ancient Roman times for its diuretic properties, raperonzolo has always been hand-picked by local inhabitants and enjoyed raw, simply dressed with oil, vinegar, and salt, or as a filling in warm piadina.

The village of San Giovanni in Galilea

The festival is also an opportunity to discover one of the most characteristic villages in the Uso Valley: perched on a hill, San Giovanni in Galilea preserves the remains of ancient fortifications and houses the Renzi Museum and Library, a precious archive of Romagna's popular culture and traditions. During the event, the village streets and squares come alive with the market and food stalls set up by the Pro Loco of Borghi, while the Piazzale delle Rocche becomes the convivial heart of the festival.

Tradition, culture, and excursions

The Raperonzolo Festival is not just about food: the programme intertwines food with culture and nature. Guided excursions on the raperonzolo trails are offered, starting from the Renzi Museum, to discover the places where the root grows and the surrounding hilly landscapes. There are also cultural events at the museum, with presentations, exhibitions, and meetings, as well as traditional moments of Romagnolo dialect theatre and live music that accompany the evenings and afternoons of the festival.

A genuine Emilia-Romagna festival

Far from large commercial festivals, the event in San Giovanni in Galilea maintains an authentic community character, deeply linked to the territory and the cycle of the seasons. It is an ideal event for those who wish to experience the most genuine Romagna, with simple flavours, hilly landscapes, and popular culture. The event is organised by the Pro Loco of Borghi together with the Renzi Museum and Library and the Municipality of Borghi, with free admission.