Saint Catherine's Fair in Besana in Brianza
The centuries-old late November fair with stalls, livestock exhibition, and Brianza street food
About Saint Catherine's Fair
A Fair Over a Century Old
The Saint Catherine's Fair is the event that has marked the autumn calendar of Besana in Brianza, in the Province of Monza and Brianza, for over a hundred years. The fair pays homage to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and the church of the same name in the village, built around the year 1000. With over 130 editions behind it, it is one of the longest-standing and most deeply rooted traditional fairs in Brianza.
Stalls, Animals, and Agricultural Machinery
On the day of the fair, Roma, Vittorio Emanuele II, Dante, and Verdi streets are filled with hundreds of stalls and street performers. The connection with the farming world remains strong: the agricultural machinery exhibition takes place in Piazza Cuzzi, while Villa Filippini park hosts a farm with sheep, cattle, and donkeys. In Via Viarana, the medieval market with a spinning top workshop and the exchange and barter market add color to the day.
Brianza Street Food and Christmas Village
The gastronomic area in Piazza Cuzzi celebrates local flavors with typical Brianza dishes — busèca (tripe), cassoeula, risotto with luganega — as well as Valtellina specialties. The fair also inaugurates the ice skating rink and the Christmas Village, which remain open until Epiphany, effectively launching the festive season in Besana.
Saint Catherine's Fair — edition 2026
The 2026 edition, scheduled for November 25th as tradition dictates, will offer the established format: hundreds of stalls in the town center streets, the agricultural machinery exhibition in Piazza Cuzzi, the farm at Villa Filippini, and the medieval and barter markets in Via Viarana. The street food area with Brianza dishes and the opening of the ice rink and Christmas Village complete the day. The detailed program with mass and event times will be published by the Municipality in the weeks prior.
Programme Saint Catherine's Fair 2026
Typical Day Program (based on the previous edition)
- Morning — Lauds and Holy Mass at the Church of Saint Catherine; followed by Solemn Mass in the basilica
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM — Market fair in Via Roma, Vittorio Emanuele II, Dante, and Verdi with hundreds of stalls and street performers
- Morning — Inauguration of the ice skating rink and Christmas Village
- All Day — Agricultural machinery exhibition in Piazza Cuzzi; farm with sheep, cattle, and donkeys at Villa Filippini; medieval market with spinning top workshop and barter market in Via Viarana
- Street food area in Piazza Cuzzi with busèca, cassoeula, risotto with luganega, and Valtellina specialties
- Evening — Awarding of civic merits
The definitive 2026 program will be released by the Municipality closer to the event.
Highlights Saint Catherine's Fair 2026
Prices Saint Catherine's Fair 2026
Practical information — Saint Catherine's Fair
When
Tuesday, November 25, 2026. Market fair from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; street food area in Piazza Cuzzi on the preceding days.
Where
Historic center of Besana in Brianza (MB): Via Roma, Vittorio Emanuele II, Dante, and Verdi; Piazza Cuzzi; Villa Filippini park.
How to get there
By car from the SS36 or Valassina, exit Besana. By train to Besana in Brianza station on the Milan-Molteno-Lecco line.
Contacts
Municipal Culture Office: +39 0362 922011.
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Where does it take place — Saint Catherine's Fair
Centro storico di Besana in Brianza
Vie Roma, Vittorio Emanuele II, Dante, Verdi, 20842 Besana in Brianza