San Nazzaro of Piozzano in Festa

A village festival in the hills of Val Tidone

San Nazzaro of Piozzano in Festa is the spring event of the hamlet of San Nazzaro, in the Municipality of Piozzano, a small town in Val Tidone in the province of Piacenza, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. The event attracts residents, former residents, and visitors from the surrounding areas for a day of outdoor conviviality, in the greenery of the areas adjacent to the parish church.

The menu: seaside air in the Piacenza hills

The common thread of the festival is fish, an original choice for a hillside village far from the sea. The staff of the fish shop Il Delfino of Podenzano prepares an entirely seafood menu, served at tables and also available for takeaway. Among the most requested dishes:

• Fish Paella
• Mixed fried seafood
• Seafood salad

The dishes, simple and well-prepared, are often snapped up: in recent editions, the food ran out quickly, a sign of the area's affection for this initiative.

A solidarity festival in support of the community

The event is promoted by the Parish of San Nazzaro and made possible by the work of volunteers, who are responsible for organization and service. The proceeds from the festival are allocated to the maintenance costs of the church of San Nazzaro, making the event not only a gastronomic moment but also a concrete gesture of support for the community.

Atmosphere and tradition

The festival is usually held at the end of April, taking advantage of the first mild days of spring. Stands and tables are set up in the green areas next to the parish church, where hundreds of people gather, drawn by the good weather and good food. It is an opportunity to rediscover the meaning of a village festival: outdoor tables, chats among neighbors, and the pleasure of a shared meal in the hilly landscape of Val Tidone.

San Nazzaro and Piozzano

San Nazzaro is one of the hamlets of the Municipality of Piozzano, a rural area dotted with small villages, churches, and farmhouses typical of the Piacenza Apennines. During the year, the hamlet also experiences other festive moments related to the seasons — such as the autumn "Ottobrata" with roasted chestnuts and "bortellina" — testifying to a small but active community, capable of animating the local calendar thanks to the commitment of volunteers.