Snail Festival

A gastronomic tradition of the Valdichiana

The Snail Festival takes place every year in late spring in the village of Fossa del Lupo, a small hamlet in the municipality of Cortona, in the Province of Arezzo, just a few kilometers from Camucia and the heart of the Valdichiana. It is one of the most deeply rooted food festivals in eastern Tuscany, drawing hundreds of visitors every evening from across the province and neighboring Umbria, whose borders Fossa del Lupo touches.

Snail stew, the star of the show

The centerpiece of the entire event is the snail stew, prepared according to the traditional recipe by the food stalls of the Gruppo Sportivo Fossa del Lupo, the association that has organized the event for decades under the patronage of the Municipality of Cortona and the Province of Arezzo. Snails are the absolute stars, accompanied by other local products from the Arezzo area and home-style cooking served under the festival tents. You can dine on-site or order takeout.

The Feast of Saint Celestine

The Snail Festival has always been linked to the Feast of Saint Celestine, the village's patron saint, also known in the local dialect as the Festa al Cilestro. During the festival days, the traditional procession in honor of the saint takes place, a moment of strong identity for the Fossa del Lupo community, blending religious devotion with the convivial and gastronomic spirit of the festival.

Music, dancing, and entertainment

Beyond the food, the festival offers a rich entertainment program: dance nights, live concerts, and musical performances liven up the festival area for the duration of the event. Over the years, the festival has also hosted vintage car and motorcycle rallies, confirming its status as a popular, family-friendly event for the region.

A late May tradition

Held between late May and early June, the Snail Festival marks the beginning of the festival season in the Valdichiana and represents a great opportunity to discover the rustic cuisine of Cortona and its surrounding villages. The event takes place regardless of weather conditions, under the covered structures of the festival area.