Santa Caterina Fair – Fair of Culinary Excellence

A fair that spans the centuries

The Santa Caterina Fair is one of the most deeply rooted events in the calendar of Monte San Savino, an elegant village in the Valdichiana area of the province of Arezzo, in the heart of Tuscany. Its origins date back to 1551, when the Di Monte family requested it from the Grand Duke, obtaining the same privileges as other major Arezzo fairs. Originally, the fair began on November 1st and lasted for weeks; over time, it became concentrated on the last weekend of November, around the feast of Saint Catherine, from which it takes its name.

Due to its historical significance, it is also known as the Fiera Grossa (Great Fair) or, by the name that best captures its popular spirit, the Fair of the Equine and the Whistling Hand-warmer.

The whistling hand-warmer, symbol of the village

The fair's signature product is the whistling hand-warmer (scaldino col fischio), an object that tells the story of centuries of Savinese ceramic tradition. The hand-warmer was a container for household embers, used to heat rooms and beds in peasant homes. The Monte San Savino version is unmistakable: glazed in red or black, and sometimes enriched by a small terracotta whistle on the handle. Today, it has become the most sought-after souvenir of the event, kept alive by the town's historic artisan workshops, a land of ancient and noble ceramic tradition.

From equines to culinary excellence

Alongside the world of ceramics, the other historical pillar of the fair is the equine and agricultural sector, the heart of the village's ancient trade. Over the years, the event has expanded and adopted the subtitle Fair of Culinary Excellence: the historic center fills with traditional stalls and the Corte dei Sapori (Court of Flavors), dedicated to typical products and gastronomic specialties of the Arezzo Valdichiana.

Among the food and wine offerings, the territory's finest products stand out: the extra virgin olive oil from the Savinese hills and the Vinsanto, celebrated through dedicated competitions that reward the best local producers.

An event for the whole family

The Santa Caterina Fair is designed for all ages. Throughout the streets and squares of the historic center, there are storytelling sessions for children, entertainment, the arrival of Santa Claus to kick off the holiday season, tastings, and themed guided tours. In recent years, a walk dedicated to the olive tree and its oil has been added, winding through the terraced olive groves that surround the town.

Walking through the alleys of Monte San Savino during the fair means breathing in the authentic atmosphere of a Tuscan village that, in a single day, showcases its history, its craftsmanship, and the flavors of its land. An unmissable appointment for those who want to discover the Arezzo Valdichiana in its most genuine form.