Sagra di' Bollito Festival

The boiled meat festival in the heart of Valdisieve

The Sagra di' Bollito is one of the most cherished winter food festivals in the municipality of Pelago, a hillside town in the Valdisieve area of the Florence province, Tuscany. While most Tuscan festivals take place in the summer, this event brings warmth and conviviality to the depths of winter, when tables steaming with broth and boiled meats become the best remedy for the February chill.

Traditional peasant dishes

The undisputed stars of the menu are two dishes that tell the story of the humble, resourceful cooking of the Tuscan countryside: lesso rifatto and the gran bollito misto (mixed boiled meat platter). These dishes, once born from the necessity of wasting nothing, have become symbols of a unique and refined local gastronomy. Alongside the boiled meat, the festival menu features:

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

An indoor, family-friendly event

The festival takes place entirely indoors at the Giorgio La Pira Pastoral Center on Via Vallombrosana, making it weather-proof. The welcoming atmosphere and table-service format make it perfect for families, groups of friends, and anyone looking to spend an evening or lunch enjoying good food and social connection. The event is organized with passion by local volunteers who have been the heart of Pelago's social life for years.

Pelago and the Valdisieve

Perched on the hills east of Florence along the Sieve River, the municipality of Pelago serves as a gateway to the stunning Vallombrosa area and its monumental forests. The Valdisieve is a land of wine, olive oil, and chestnuts, and the Sagra di' Bollito fits perfectly into this culinary tradition, offering visitors the chance to combine a trip into the Florentine countryside with the discovery of the most genuine winter flavors.