Sagra dell'Uva e del Vino – Palio dei Rioni

The grape festival of Vezzano Ligure

The Sagra dell'Uva e del Vino – Palio dei Rioni is the big September festival in Vezzano Ligure, a hillside village in the province of La Spezia, behind the Poets' Gulf. Now over sixty years old, it celebrates ripe grapes and wine, two symbolic products of Ligurian agricultural tradition, with the historic center's streets decorated thematically and enlivened by stands and tasting corners.

The Palio dei Rioni

The heart of the sagra is the rivalry between the village districts (rioni), who compete in four contests: the dialect poetry challenge, the decoration of the districts with flowers, grapes, and flags, the costume parade, and the grape harvesters' race. In the latter, six members per district compete in barefoot grape treading: one contestant fills the basket with grapes to be taken to the vat, while others tread for a few minutes. A spectacular competition recalling the ancient gestures of the grape harvest.

Flavors and music

At the stands, you can taste Ligurian cuisine dishes: focaccia, testaroli with pesto, vegetable pies, local cured meats, and cheeses, accompanied by local wines such as Vermentino, Pigato, and Ciliegiolo. There's also live music, folk performances, street artists, and traditional craft exhibitions, all in a festive atmosphere that involves the entire village.

Tradition and territory

Recognized among the Authentic Ligurian Events funded by the Region, the sagra is a living expression of Vezzano Ligure's identity and its connection to the vine. For visitors to the Poets' Gulf, it's an opportunity to discover the hinterland of La Spezia and a still-authentic popular tradition.