Snail Festival of Goodness of the Apennines

The Snail Festival, taste and solidarity in the Parma Apennines

The Snail Festival of Goodness of the Apennines is one of the most heartfelt food and wine events in Fornovo di Taro, in the heart of the Province of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna. The event takes place at Foro 2000, the covered area also known as the Foro Boario, and attracts a large audience of lovers of good mountain cuisine every year.

An association at the service of the villages

The event is organized by the Bontà dell'Appennino Association, founded on June 15, 2017, from an idea by president Alberto Anelli and a group of friends, with the aim of promoting the territories, products, and traditions of the Parma Apennines. The Snail Festival is one of the events that allows the association to raise funds and contributions to support projects for the small mountain municipalities, from schools to the elderly in the Taro and Ceno valleys.

Flavors on the table

The signature dish is naturally the snail, cooked according to traditional peasant recipes, but the menu also offers other local specialties such as tripe and cod. The evenings alternate typical courses, moments of conviviality, and opportunities for meeting that make the Snail Festival much more than just a dinner.

• Snails prepared according to local recipes
• Parmesan-style tripe and other traditional peasant dishes
• Cod and seasonal specialties
• Wines and typical products of the Apennines

An evolving event

Over the years, the Snail Festival has been held multiple times, with spring and autumn editions at the Foro Boario. As announced by president Anelli, the formula at Foro 2000 is heading towards its final editions: the association is considering transferring its gastronomic events to equipped restaurants in the area. A change that does not alter the spirit of the event, always linked to the promotion of the Parma Apennines and solidarity initiatives, including the creation of new giant benches between Varano, Fornovo, and Solignano.

Fornovo di Taro, gateway to the Apennines

Nestled along the Taro River, Fornovo di Taro is a village in the municipality that serves as a natural gateway to the Parma Apennines. Known for the historic Battle of the Taro in 1495 and its Romanesque parish church, it is today a gastronomic and cultural reference point for the surrounding valleys, of which the Snail Festival is one of the most genuine expressions.