San Giacomo Balanzon Festival

The summer feast of San Giacomo in Casaglia

Every year, around the feast of the patron saint San Giacomo (July 25th), the hamlet of Casaglia, a few kilometers from the center of Ferrara, comes alive with the San Giacomo Balanzon Festival. For several weekends in July, the Parish Hall on via Giovanni Ranuzzi becomes a large village dining table, where the Pro Loco Casaglia offers the dishes that have made this village in the Municipality of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna, a reference point for lovers of regional cuisine.

The balanzòn, the dish that unites Ferrara with neighboring provinces

The balanzòn is a specialty of poor, "leftover" cuisine, adapted over time to become an iconic dish. It consists of green spinach pasta tortelloni, with a filling similar to cappelletti—pork of various cuts and Parmigiano Reggiano—closed like a cappellaccio and dressed with ragù and a creamy béchamel. It is a dish that connects Ferrara with the nearby provinces and has found its home in Casaglia.

Pinzini, the street food of Ferrara fairs

Alongside the balanzòn, pinzini (close relatives of the Emilian gnocco fritto) are a must: a fried dough made of flour, lard, water, and salt, crispy and crumbly, served hot and stuffed with mixed cured meats. They have always been the stars of village fairs in the Ferrara area.

The festival menu

The Pro Loco stand offers a menu that highlights regional specialties:

• Balanzoni — green tortelloni filled with meat, dressed with béchamel and ragù;
• Cappellacci with ragù or butter and sage;
• Maccheroncini with ragù;
• Mixed cured meats with pinzini;
• Mixed grill;
• Side dishes (french fries, mixed salad) and desserts of the day.

Tradition and conviviality in the Ferrara region

The festival is now a regular fixture on the summer festival calendar of the Province of Ferrara. The stand, with covered and uncovered areas, welcomes families and food lovers in an atmosphere of good food, popular tradition, and conviviality. An opportunity to discover the most authentic Ferrara cuisine just a stone's throw from the historic center of Ferrara, a UNESCO World Heritage city.