Santanin

Santanin, the heart of summer in Battifollo

Nestled in the heart of the Valle Mongia, perched between the Val Tanaro and the plains of Mondovì, Battifollo is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont. Every year at the end of July, the village hosts the Santanin: this is the local dialect name for the feast dedicated to Saint Anne, the village's patron saint, to whom a small local chapel is also dedicated. It is the most anticipated evening of the summer, when the entire community comes together and the village comes alive until late at night.

A grand seafood dinner in the mountains

The undisputed star of the evening is the food. Despite Battifollo being a mountain village, for years the Santanin has featured a grand seafood dinner, affectionately dubbed Battifish: a seaside menu served at the long festival tables, attracting numerous guests from neighboring towns. It is a delicious little paradox—the sea rising into the hills—that has become a tradition and a hallmark of the event.

Ballroom dancing and festivities until late

After dinner, the evening continues with music and ballroom dancing, with a live orchestra keeping everyone on their feet. It captures the genuine, popular atmosphere of Piedmontese village festivals: shared tables, toasts, open-air dancing, and the simple pleasure of being together. It is a deliberately lighthearted and convivial event, where community spirit matters more than spectacle.

The patronal feast and the Pro Loco

The Santanin is deeply rooted in the devotion to Saint Anne: on the preceding Sunday, the village celebrates the Patronal Mass, while the dance party marks the conclusion of the civil festivities. Keeping the tradition alive is the Pro Loco of Battifollo, which also organizes other beloved summer events like the Battifest and the mid-August polenta feast, bringing life to a village with only a few hundred inhabitants but a vibrant community life.

Battifollo, a village to discover

Those who come for the Santanin find much more than just a party: Battifollo preserves a medieval castle with its quadrangular tower, the parish church of San Giorgio, and stunning views over the ridges of the Valle Mongia. It is a perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the southern Langhe and the Upper Val Tanaro, far from mass tourism circuits.