San Lorenzo Patronal Festival

The patron saint festival of Mandello Vitta

Every summer, around August 10th, the small village of Mandello Vitta — home to just a few hundred residents in the rice-growing plains of the Province of Novara, in Piedmont — comes together to celebrate its patron saint during the San Lorenzo Patronal Festival. It is one of those local village festivals that preserves the most authentic soul of the Novara area: no grand festival stages here, just squares and courtyards that, for a few nights, become the beating heart of the community.

Three evenings of music and cuisine

The heart of the festival lies in the dance evenings featuring ballroom orchestras, a musical tradition that has accompanied festivals in the Po Valley for generations. Each night, guests can dance outdoors and dine on Piedmontese and Novara-style dishes: from mixed fried fish to polenta with fried sides, and traditional specialties like paniscia (the classic Novara risotto with beans, salam d'la duja, and vegetables), tapulon, and gorgonzola cheese. There is also a grill serving sausages and pork chops, along with fries and a charity raffle.

A popular, free-entry event

The San Lorenzo Festival is deeply rooted in the town's identity: entry to the musical evenings is free, and dinner is usually by reservation, managed by local associations. It is the perfect opportunity to discover a lesser-known corner of Piedmont, far from the usual tourist circuits, where conviviality and good food remain the true stars.

Where it takes place

The festival enlivens the center of Mandello Vitta, a municipality in the Province of Novara, easily accessible via the road network of the Bassa Novarese. The village is located in the heart of the rice-growing plains between Novara and the Sesia River, a landscape of rice paddies that offers evocative views in summer and serves as the backdrop for this traditional patronal festival.