Sagra del Pansoto

A festival that smells of authentic Liguria

Pansoto (or pansotto) is one of the most beloved dishes of Genoese tradition: a "pot-bellied" ravioli filled with wild herbs and prebuggiun, dressed with the famous walnut sauce. In Mele, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Genoa nestled along the Valle Leira a few kilometers from Voltri, this dish gives its name to the village festival organized by the Pubblica Assistenza Croce Verde Mele.

The return after four years

After a four-year break, in July 2025 the festival returned to fill Piazza dell'Oratorio, in the center of the village, for three consecutive evenings. The initiative, strongly desired by the Croce Verde volunteers led by president Franco Pastorino, combines food and solidarity: the entire proceeds are destined for the purchase of medical supplies for the public assistance association, a fundamental resource for the valley area.

At the table and on the dance floor

The food stalls offer pansotti with walnut sauce as the absolute stars, alongside skewers, grilled meat, and sweet crepes. Every evening the square transforms into a dance floor with orchestras and traditional Ligurian bands. Since 2025, the festival has also been enriched by an amateur fun run, the "Sciuscia e Resccéuppa," which in the morning brings walkers and enthusiasts along the valley's trails.

Mele, gateway to the Genoese hinterland

Nestled among the woods climbing towards the Passo del Turchino and the Beigua Park, the village of Mele preserves the memory of its ancient paper-making vocation. Today, the festival represents one of the most heartfelt moments of community gathering, an opportunity to come together around the flavors of the past in the heart of the Province of Genoa.