Sala Mandelli Batarò De.Co. Festival

The Batarò Festival of Sala Mandelli

In the small hamlet of Sala Mandelli, in the municipality of Alta Val Tidone (province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna), the second weekend of September has for over forty years been dedicated to a village festival that has become a major event for the entire valley: the Batarò De.Co. Festival. The event celebrates the symbol product of the area, the batarò, and attracts thousands of visitors each year drawn by the combination of good food, music, and socialising.

What is batarò

Batarò is a flat, oval bread typical of Val Tidone, made from a simple dough. Originally a humble bread of peasant tradition, it was used to test the temperature of wood-fired ovens before baking the main bread; stuffed with sugar and raisins, it was also a snack for children. Today it is a product with Municipal Designation (De.Co.), a recognition obtained in 2012 by the then-municipality of Nibbiano, and is particularly appreciated stuffed with Piacenza DOP cured meats such as coppa, pancetta, and salame.

A long-standing festival

The festival has its roots in the 1980s and has reached its 42nd edition: a milestone that makes it one of the longest-running gastronomic festivals in the Piacenza Apennines. Organised by the Pro Loco of Sala Mandelli with the support of the Municipality of Alta Val Tidone, it is entirely run by the work of the village volunteers.

What to expect

• Food stalls with stuffed batarò, but also traditional Val Tidone and Piacenza dishes such as tripe, picula ëd caval (the famous Piacenza dish made with horse meat), and fried foods.
• Live music: ballroom dance orchestras on the main evenings and more youthful offerings for Friday.
• Cocktail bar and fryer to accompany the evenings.
• Convivial atmosphere of a true village festival, immersed in the hilly landscape of Val Tidone.

A territory to discover

The Batarò Festival is also an opportunity to discover Alta Val Tidone, a land of hills, villages, and vineyards between Emilia and the Lombard border. Part of a packed calendar of events that liven up the valley throughout the year, the festival represents one of the most heartfelt moments for the local community and an invitation to experience the authenticity of the province of Piacenza.