Saint Lazarus Fair and Canestrello Festival

Spring Arrives in Brugnato

The Saint Lazarus Fair, with the Canestrello and Cavagnetto Festival, is the celebration that inaugurates spring in Brugnato, a small municipality in the Val di Vara in the province of La Spezia. Known as the Spring Festival, it is held at the end of March and is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of the village, an ancient episcopal seat with medieval charm.

Canestrelli and Cavagnetti, the Traditional Sweets

The heart of the festival are the typical local sweets: the canestrello and the cavagnetto, traditional biscuits linked to spring and Easter celebrations. Food stalls offer them along with other local specialties, on a day that celebrates the genuine flavors of the La Spezia hinterland.

Fair, Market, and Entertainment

The festival comes alive with the historic fair and the market of artists, hobbyists, collectors, and vintage items, which fills the streets of the center. For families, there are inflatables and bouncy castles, while the afternoon offers entertainment with the clown-magician Joe and balloon sculpting shows, making the day suitable for all ages.

Brugnato, a Gem of the Val di Vara

With its cathedral and medieval village, Brugnato is a historically significant stop in the Ligurian hinterland, just a stone's throw from the Cinque Terre. The Spring Festival is the ideal opportunity to visit it, discovering its sweet traditions and welcoming atmosphere, also thanks to the shuttle service available from the nearby Outlet Village.