Sagra di' Bollito (Autumn Edition)

The autumn boiled meat festival in Valdisieve

The Sagra di' Bollito in its autumn edition is one of the most beloved culinary events in the municipality of Pelago, a hillside town in the Valdisieve area of the Province of Florence, Tuscany. Unlike the traditional winter festival held in February, this edition brings the month of October to life, when the woods of Vallombrosa turn into autumn colors and tables steaming with broth and boiled meat become the best way to celebrate the season of robust flavors.

Traditional peasant dishes

The absolute star of the menu is bollito (boiled meat) in its various forms, accompanied by sauces and side dishes from old-school Tuscan cuisine. Specialties that have made the festival famous include:

• Chicken liver crostini, a classic Florentine appetizer
• Tortellini in broth, the ultimate warm first course
• Lesso rifatto and gran bollito misto, served with green sauce
• Roast beef with french fries
• Traditional desserts such as crostata (fruit tart) and castagnaccio (chestnut cake)

These are recipes that once originated from the need to waste nothing, and which have now become symbols of local identity, prepared by local volunteers and cooks.

An indoor, family-friendly event

The festival takes place entirely indoors at the Centro Pastorale Giorgio La Pira on Via Vallombrosana, making it independent of weather conditions. Service is organized into multiple seatings—Friday and Saturday dinner, and Sunday lunch—to comfortably accommodate families, groups of friends, and curious foodies. The event is organized with passion by the Associazione Parrocchiale La Pira, which has been the heart of Pelago's social and gastronomic life for years.

Pelago and the Valdisieve

Nestled in the hills east of Florence, along the Sieve river, the municipality of Pelago is one of the gateways to the evocative area of Vallombrosa and its monumental forests. The Valdisieve is a land of wine, olive oil, and chestnuts, and the Autumn Sagra di' Bollito fits perfectly into this food and wine tradition, offering the chance to combine a trip into the Florentine countryside with the discovery of the most genuine Tuscan flavors.