Sagra di' Pinolo Festival in Chiesanuova

A signature festival in the Florentine Chianti

The Sagra di' Pinolo in Chiesanuova is one of the most cherished and long-standing events in Chiesanuova, a small village in the municipality of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, in the Province of Florence, in the heart of the Tuscan Chianti. Established in 1977 and reaching its 49th edition in 2026, the festival is rooted in an ancient craft: the harvesting of pine cones and the processing of pine nuts, an activity that provided a vital resource for the inhabitants of this countryside corner overlooking the Via Volterrana, just a few kilometers from Florence, during the post-war period.

Pinolata, the festival's signature dessert

The delicious heart of the event is the pinolata (or pinocchiata), a traditional pine nut cake prepared by the locals of Chiesanuova: a flavor that, as the municipal administration loves to recall, "caresses the memory" and tells the story of the genuine simplicity of Chianti country life. Alongside the pinolata, the food stalls offer traditional first courses, grilled meats, pine nut specialties, wine, and cold beer, in a village atmosphere where everything is managed by the Circolo volunteers.

Theater, music, and community

The Sagra di' Pinolo is more than just gastronomy: it is, above all, a great social and cultural engine, managed by the Chiesanuova Recreational and Cultural Circle (CRC) with the support of the San Casciano Pro Loco. A special bond connects the festival to the "Franco Bartalucci" Theater School, the true creative soul of the village, which in 2026 celebrated its thirty years of activity with the exhibition "Thirty years of theater and the show goes on," featuring photographs, posters, and videos from three decades of community performances.

What to expect

• Food stalls featuring pinolata and traditional Chianti cuisine
• Themed dinners and dinner shows, including the "Dinner at the Museum" evenings at the Circolo's open-air theater
• Live music every night, with cover bands and local groups
• Circus performances, magic, and family entertainment
• Workshops including clay modeling, Qi Gong, judo, and exhibitions
• Artisan market featuring local crafts and charity association booths

Spread over two long weekends in June, the Sagra di' Pinolo is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic and popular side of the Chianti region, far from the most beaten tourist paths, just six kilometers from Florence.