Sagra delle Radici di Soncino

The Sagra delle Radici di Soncino

The Sagra delle Radici is one of the oldest and most characteristic food festivals in the Cremonese area. It takes place in Soncino (Province of Cremona) on the fourth Sunday of October and celebrates the bitter root, a typical local product. Organised by the Pro Loco Soncino, the festival began in 1966 and will reach its sixtieth edition in 2026, testifying to a deeply rooted tradition.

The bitter root

The absolute star is the bitter root, a winter vegetable characteristic of the Soncino area. It is consumed as a vegetable but is also appreciated for its purifying properties, thanks to the inulin it contains. Prepared with water and lemon, it is cooked and served in the square with sausage, but local gastronomic traditions offer it in many versions: boiled, au gratin, preserved in oil, in bagna cauda, and even in grappa and honey.

The festival in the square

During the festival, the historic centre of Soncino fills with food stalls and market stands selling typical local products. Alongside the bitter root, there is no shortage of sausages, polenta, and Cremonese mostarda (a fruit preserve), in a triumph of autumn flavours to be enjoyed in the atmosphere of the medieval village.

Soncino, a village in the Cremonese area

Recognised as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, Soncino provides a splendid setting for this festival, with its centre surrounded by walls and dominated by the Sforza Castle. The Sagra delle Radici is the ideal opportunity to discover a unique product and the gastronomic traditions of this corner of Lombardy.