Ribollita Festival

The Ribollita festival in the heart of Maremma

Every summer, in the month of July, the village of Ribolla (Municipality of Roccastrada, in the Province of Grosseto) celebrates the signature dish of Tuscan peasant cuisine with the Ribollita Festival. The event takes place in the Piazzale della Paga, the central square of this mining town in the Grosseto Metalliferous Hills, attracting families, curious visitors, and food lovers from across the Maremma region every evening.

The star dish

Ribollita is a humble soup that is extraordinarily rich in flavor: stale bread, black kale, beans, and seasonal vegetables are slow-cooked and then "reboiled" the following day, which is how it gets its name. In Ribolla, it is prepared according to the historic local recipe, guarded by the Pro Loco volunteers. Alongside the star dish, the stalls offer other traditional Tuscan and Maremma specialties, such as tortelli served with meat sauce, boscaiola sauce, or butter and sage.

Music, dancing, and folk tradition

The festival is about more than just food. The evening program combines live music, dancing, and moments of folk culture such as impromptu ottava rima poetry, an ancient form of poetic improvisation typical of the Tuscan countryside. Particularly anticipated are the theatrical performances by the Compagnia dell'Anello di Ribolla, an amateur group that stages sketches and shows tied to the life and memory of the village.

A sustainable festival

The Ribollita Festival is part of the eco-friendly festivals promoted in the Roccastrada area: the stalls use biodegradable and compostable tableware, reflecting an environmental awareness that fits perfectly with the natural setting of the Metalliferous Hills and the nearby Metalliferous Hills National Park.

Ribolla, from coal to celebration

Ribolla is a village with a strong identity: born and raised around lignite mining, it preserves the memory of its working-class past. The festival is one of the moments when this community comes together, renewing its bond with its peasant roots and the most authentic Tuscan table. It is an opportunity to discover a corner of Maremma far from mass tourism circuits.