Sant'Anna Patronal Festival

A village festival in the heart of the Alta Langa

Every year, around the last Sunday of July, the village of Rocchetta Belbo — a tiny municipality in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, nestled in the Moscato hills of the Alta Langa — gathers for its Sant'Anna Patronal Festival. It is one of those authentic village celebrations, far from the crowds of mass tourism, that has marked the Langhe summer for over forty years and keeps the community spirit alive.

For five days, Piazza Libertà and the village streets come alive with food stalls, dance evenings, sports tournaments, and events for all ages. The local Pro Loco, in collaboration with the municipality, handles the organization with that blend of volunteer spirit and passion that defines the festivals of the Langhe.

The Crono Vertical del Moscato

The pride of the festival is the Crono Vertical del Moscato, an uphill footrace organized by the ASD Dynamic Center Valle Belbo. The route, approximately 3.2 km long with an elevation gain of nearly 650 meters, winds through ancient trails, country roads, and the famous heroic vineyards clinging to the slopes of the Langa. It is a challenging and scenic race that leads runners above the village, offering breathtaking views of the hills. At the finish line, awards ceremonies and the unmissable pasta party in the square await.

Tradition, sport, and conviviality

Alongside the race, the Sant'Anna Festival keeps the region's deepest traditions alive. There is no shortage of pallapugno (the traditional elastic ball sport of the Langhe and Monferrato), with tournaments and matches held at the municipal field. There is also the classic rally of vintage tractors, Vespas, and classic cars, non-competitive woodland walks, and moments of community remembrance.

• Food stalls featuring the flavors of the Langa: grilled meats, cheeses, porchetta
• Dance evenings with live orchestras and mobile discos
• Pallapugno tournaments at the municipal field
• Vintage vehicle rally and aperitifs in the square
• Woodland walks and activities for children

Where the Moscato hills celebrate

Rocchetta Belbo is located in the Belbo Valley, along the road connecting Santo Stefano Belbo and Cossano Belbo, in a territory that is the home of Moscato d'Asti and part of the UNESCO World Heritage wine landscape. Attending the Sant'Anna Festival means discovering an authentic corner of the Langhe, where the patron saint's feast remains a moment of true collective identity.