The first festival in Italy dedicated to the queen of the Lucanian pastures
Amidst the pastures and woods of high Basilicata, on the border with Irpinia, Pescopagano โ a municipality in the province of Potenza โ hosts a festival that is unique in its kind: the Sagra della Podolica, the first event in Italy entirely dedicated to the Podolica cattle breed. A rustic and ancient cow, raised in semi-wild conditions, which from its milk and meat offers some of the most prized products of the territory.
The absolute protagonist is the smoked podolic caciocavallo, the symbolic cheese of Lucanian pastoral culture, alongside DOP cheeses, cavatelli with horseradish, "bombe di toro" (Lucanian-style veal meatloaf), tartares, fried pizzas, and grilled meats. A journey of taste that tells the entire supply chain, from the stable to the table.
The festival is not just about gastronomy: organized by the Pratica...mente association, it offers historical reenactments of the agricultural trades of the past, from threshing to milking, to the manual production of stretched-curd cheeses. Photographic exhibitions on local agricultural history complete an experience that enhances peasant memory and the deep bond between Pescopagano and its land.
For 2026, the Sagra della Podolica is expected in Pescopagano between the end of July and the beginning of August. Sources indicate dates yet to be confirmed (some suggest July 31 โ August 1, others July 25-26): it is advisable to check the final calendar with the organizers. However, the content remains confirmed, featuring great Podolica gastronomy and reenactments of rural culture.
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, with definitive dates and times, will be announced by the Pratica...mente association in the coming weeks.
The traditional structure of the festival includes:
When: straddling late July and early August.
Where: Pescopagano (PZ), high Basilicata.
How to get there: Pescopagano can be reached from the SS401 and the roads of high Basilicata; about an hour's drive from Potenza.
Admission: free; tastings and dishes can be purchased at the stands.
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