Regional Fair of the Prized Black Truffle

The black diamond of Acqualagna

In Acqualagna, a small village in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino known as the Italian capital of truffles, the Regional Fair of the Prized Black Truffle is renewed every February. The absolute protagonist is the Tuber Melanosporum Vitt, the most sought-after black truffle, which ripens between December and mid-March and gives Marche cuisine an intense and unmistakable aroma. Acqualagna, along with the hills of Montefeltro and the Sibillini Mountains, is one of the most suitable territories in Italy: a significant portion of the national truffle harvest is concentrated here.

What to see at the fair

Throughout the weekend, Piazza Enrico Mattei, the heart of the town, becomes a grand arena of taste. Along the exhibition route, you will find:

• truffle hunters' stalls with fresh prized black truffles, to observe, smell, and buy directly from those who search for and trade them;
• stalls of typical products: cured meats and charcuterie, cheeses, wines from the Pesaro hills, honey, sweets, and other local food and wine excellences;
• creations of local artistic craftsmanship;
• restaurants in the town center offering new truffle-based recipes and menus at promotional prices.

Show cooking, tastings, and the Truffle Museum

The program alternates moments of entertainment and insight: show cooking with local chefs, guided tastings (in past years with the collaboration of AIS Marche), and activities at the Multimedia Truffle Museum, overlooking Piazza Mattei, with truffle hunts dedicated to children. It's the perfect opportunity to discover how truffles are found, preserved, and paired with food.

The party continues with the Truffle Carnival

The Fair of the Prized Black Truffle opens the celebrations that culminate, in the following days, in the Truffle Carnival: a unique tradition in the world where truffles are not bought but given away, or rather, thrown in the air. The parade of masked groups and the throwing of truffles in Piazza Mattei transform Acqualagna into a jovial and tasty stage, rewarding those who reach the village to taste and buy the prized product.

Why it's worth the trip

The February fair is the winter and more intimate version of Acqualagna's major events (the famous International Fair of the White Truffle is held in autumn). Away from the crowds of the peak season, it offers an authentic experience: the Marche village, the aroma of the prized black truffle, and the local cuisine make this weekend an unmissable stop for truffle enthusiasts and lovers of good food in the Marche region.