Salviano Baccelli Festival
The oldest festival in Livorno, celebrating fava beans, pecorino cheese, and local traditions in the Salviano district.
About Baccelli Festival
Livorno's oldest festival
The Salviano Baccelli Festival is the longest-running popular event in the city of Livorno. It began centuries ago as a thanksgiving feast in the Livorno countryside: the hilly district of Salviano was the city's agricultural hub, where fresh fava beans, known locally as baccelli, heralded the arrival of spring. Today, the festival retains this genuine, small-town spirit in the heart of Livorno, Tuscany.
Fava beans and pecorino: the stars of spring
The signature dish is a classic of Tuscan peasant tradition: baccelli (fresh fava beans) shelled and eaten raw with pecorino cheese—a simple, convivial ritual marking the beginning of May. The beans served at the festival are grown specifically for the Circolo by the "Garzelli" farm in Salviano. Alongside the beans, the most anticipated specialty is the Salvianese soup, a local recipe served at the Arci Club alongside other traditional Livorno dishes.
The heart of the festival: Via di Salviano
The hub of the festivities is Via di Salviano, which is closed to traffic for the occasion and hosts around fifty market stalls: clothing, homeware, local products, food stands, and booths from local associations. Farms sell freshly harvested fava beans, while local shops, bakeries, and bars join in, enlivening the surrounding streets.
A day of tradition and community
The festival is organized by the San Martino Parish and the Arci "Carli" Salviano Club, with the support of the Municipality of Livorno and the participation of residents, volunteers, and local associations. The religious dimension remains central, with a thanksgiving mass celebrated in the Church of San Martino. Beyond the spiritual and culinary aspects, the day features fencing displays, horse encounters, an ornithological exhibition, children's entertainment, and live music, culminating in a social dinner accompanied by Livorno dialect performances.
Why it's worth visiting
Far from large commercial fairs, the Baccelli Festival is an authentic neighborhood celebration that captures the popular identity of Livorno and its province. For those visiting the Tuscan coast in spring, it is a chance to discover an ancient convivial ritual, eat fava beans and pecorino just as they did in the past, and soak up the genuine atmosphere of the Salviano district.
Baccelli Festival — edition 2026
The 134th edition of the Salviano Baccelli Festival was held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, with an opening on Saturday, May 2. The oldest festival in Livorno enlivened the Salviano district with around fifty stalls along Via di Salviano, food stands, and activities for all ages, confirming the neighborhood's bond with its farming roots.
Programme Baccelli Festival 2026
Saturday, May 2
- 9:00 PM — Choral concert in the parish area, festival opening
Sunday, May 3
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM — Opening of stalls and stands along Via di Salviano (clothing, homeware, food points) and sale of fresh fava beans by local farms
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM — "Meet the Horses" with the Giacche Verdi in the parish area; ornithological exhibition at the Club; fencing displays by the Accademia Scherma Livorno on Via dei Pelaghi; free pilates lessons with Chiara Pagano; checkers exhibitions with Michele Borghetti; inflatables and cotton candy for children
- 10:30 AM — Thanksgiving mass in the Church of San Martino
- 12:00 PM — Lunch in the oratory garden: various sandwiches and baccelli
- 12:30 PM — A la carte lunch at the Arci "Carli" Club with traditional dishes (Salvianese soup, pasta and chickpeas, lasagna, wild boar, sausages, roast, prosciutto, and desserts), no reservation required
- 3:30 PM — Burraco tournament at the Club
- 4:00 PM — Children's entertainment with "Le Caramelle"; live music with parish youth in the oratory garden; guided tours of the small church museum with archaeological artifacts
- 8:00 PM — Social dinner at the Club with a performance in Livorno dialect by Doranna Natali
Highlights Baccelli Festival 2026
Prices Baccelli Festival 2026
Practical information — Baccelli Festival
When
The festival takes place on a Sunday in early May in the Salviano district of Livorno, with main activities from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and a concluding evening event.
Where and how to get there
The heart of the festival is Via di Salviano, Livorno (Tuscany). During the event, Via di Salviano is closed to traffic; access to the district is via Via di Levante and Via dei Pelaghi. By car, reach Livorno via the A12 motorway / SS1 Aurelia; by train, Livorno Centrale station is connected to all major Tuscan cities.
Costs
Admission to the festival and market stalls is free. Lunch and dinner at the Arci Club and the oratory are paid, featuring traditional dishes at affordable prices.
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Where does it take place — Baccelli Festival
Quartiere di Salviano
Via di Salviano, 57100 Livorno