Sagra del Chichiripieno e Piatti Tipici

One of the oldest sagre in the Marche region

The Sagra del Chichiripieno e Piatti Tipici is one of the longest-standing and most beloved gastronomic events in the entire Marche region. Every summer, in the picturesque Piazza del Popolo in Offida—a splendid village in the province of Ascoli Piceno famous for its bobbin lace and its carnival—the community gathers to celebrate the dish that bears the festival's name. Organized by the Pro Loco of Offida (local tourism board), the sagra attracts thousands of visitors each year from all over the Piceno area and beyond, confirming itself as one of the most deeply rooted traditions in Offida's summer calendar.

What is chichì ripieno?

The chichì ripieno (in the Offida dialect, "chichì") is the specialty that gives the sagra its name: a flavorful stuffed savory focaccia, a sort of filled pizza, prepared according to the town's traditional recipe. The classic filling combines tuna, anchovies, peppers, capers, and olives, enclosed in a soft, golden bread dough. It is a humble dish from the peasant cuisine of the Piceno area, born to use up pantry ingredients, which has become over time an emblem of Offida's gastronomic identity.

Typical dishes on the table

Alongside the star dish, the sagra's stalls offer a rich menu of traditional Piceno cuisine, which in recent editions has included:

• Appetizers of stuffed vegetables—eggplants, peppers, and mushrooms—and bruschetta;
• Baked timballo, a classic first course for Marche celebrations;
• Herb-marinated pork with garden herbs and roasted potatoes, and the unmissable olive all'ascolana (fried stuffed olives);
• Chichì and fried mushrooms, among the most requested fried items of the evening.

Atmosphere and entertainment

The sagra is not just about food: the setting of Piazza del Popolo, with its historic buildings and arcades, provides a backdrop for evenings of live music and entertainment for all ages. The stalls are open from late afternoon until late evening, offering one of the most genuine convivial experiences of the summer in the municipality of Offida and the entire province of Ascoli Piceno.

When it is held

The Sagra del Chichiripieno is traditionally held on the first weekend of August. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, in Piazza del Popolo, as confirmed by the Offida municipality's summer program.