Sagra dl'Articiòch

The artichoke festival in the heart of Monferrato

The Sagra dl'Articiòch is an event celebrating one of the territory's iconic products: the Carciofo Astigiano della Valtiglione e del Sorì. For an entire weekend in May, the historic center of Costigliole d'Asti, located in the province of Asti in the heart of the Piedmontese Monferrato, turns into a large open-air market. The absolute star is this ancient, tender, sweet, and thornless vegetable, grown for generations on the sunny local hills.

A Slow Food Presidium to rediscover

The Carciofo Astigiano della Valtiglione e del Sorì is a local variety recognized as a Slow Food Presidium—a distinction that protects its traditional cultivation and highlights its deep connection to the agricultural landscape. The festival was created to introduce this product to a wider audience, bringing it back to the center of the table and the town's culinary memory. Along Via Roma and in Piazza Umberto I, the Mercato dl'Articiòch showcases local producers, specialty food exhibitors, and craft stalls.

Cuisine, music, and tradition

The delicious heart of the festival lies in the menus entirely dedicated to the artichoke, prepared by the Pro Loco of Costigliole d'Asti. They offer both traditional recipes and creative versions: fritters, flans, stuffed pasta, and main courses that reinterpret the vegetable in every possible way. The flavors are accompanied by live music, performances by the marching band and flag-wavers, afternoon DJ sets, and the convivial atmosphere typical of Piedmontese village festivals.

Among vineyards and UNESCO heritage

Costigliole d'Asti is situated in a territory famous for its wines and included in the Piedmont Vineyard Landscape: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A visit to the festival is the perfect opportunity to discover the local fortress, the castle, and the panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Monferrato hills, combining a gastronomic celebration with a stroll through the area's vineyards and wineries.