San Donato in Collina Fritter Festival

A sweet tradition in the Florentine hills

The San Donato in Collina Fritter Festival is one of the most beloved and long-standing gastronomic events in the province of Florence, Tuscany. It takes place in the hillside hamlet of San Donato in Collina, divided between the municipalities of Rignano sull'Arno and Bagno a Ripoli, and for two months, it transforms the village into a small open-air workshop. Every Saturday and Sunday, from the second half of January until St. Joseph's Day, the Circolo SMS stand fills with the unmistakable aroma of freshly fried fritters.

Gluten-free rice fritters

The absolute stars are the rice fritters, traditional Tuscan treats associated with the Carnival period and Father's Day (St. Joseph's Day). They are prepared on-site with a few simple, genuine ingredients: rice, milk, orange, and sugar, with an optional raisin-enriched version for those with a sweet tooth. A unique feature that sets this festival apart is that the fritters are all strictly gluten-free, making them accessible to those with celiac disease. Fried to order and served hot, generously dusted with sugar, they are best enjoyed with a glass of Vin Santo.

Since 1978, the "Village of Fritters"

The event is organized by the Mutual Aid Recreational Association (SMS) of San Donato in Collina and has been running since 1978, a multi-decade tradition spanning over forty years. Thanks to this event, San Donato in Collina has earned the affectionate nickname of "Village of Fritters." The festival is one of the first of the year in Tuscany and involves the club's volunteers, who rotate between fryers, the register, and service, churning out fritters continuously until supplies run out.

Atmosphere and context

More than a spectacular event, the Fritter Festival is a genuine village celebration: no stages or concerts, just the simple pleasure of queuing at the stand, buying a bag of hot fritters, and enjoying them while strolling through the hills of the Florentine Valdarno. The village's panoramic location, just minutes from Florence, makes it an ideal destination for a delicious winter weekend outing, when the Tuscan winter is sweetened by the scent of sugar.

• Rice fritters fried to order, all gluten-free
• Simple ingredients: rice, milk, orange, sugar, and raisins
• Free admission, stand open every Saturday and Sunday during the period
• Tradition active since 1978 at the Circolo SMS
• San Donato in Collina, the "Village of Fritters"