Sorbara Cotechino Festival

The Festival of Local Cotechino in Sorbara

Every year, at the end of August, the hamlet of Sorbara in the Municipality of Asola, in the province of Mantua, dedicates two evenings to its signature product: local cotechino, the typical cured sausage of the Mantua plain. The Cotechino Festival is organized by the association Amici di Sorbara with the patronage of the Municipal Administration of Asola.

A 1950s Farming Village

What makes this festival special is the setup: the main street of the small village is lit up and decorated in the style of a 1950s village festival, with agricultural carts, old work tools, and animals arranged at the entrance. The cotechino is cooked in the historic kitchen of the Locanda dal Gastaldo, the heart of the hamlet.

Food and Stalls

The menu centers on cotechino, accompanied by traditional specialties: risotto, handmade pumpkin tortelli, cotechino with lentils and mashed potatoes, tagliatelle with duck ragù, braised meat with polenta, cured meats and tripe, and homemade desserts. Along the stalls, you'll find craft beers, lambrusco, homemade sweets, fresh pasta, and local products. At the entrance, you can exchange euros for 'palanche', the festival's tokens.

Music and Atmosphere

In the evening, live music transforms the courtyard into an open-air dance floor, in the true spirit of a village festival. Admission is free. The Sorbara Cotechino Festival is a well-known event of the Alto Mantovano summer, frequented by those seeking genuine cuisine and the authentic atmosphere of the small villages in the province of Mantua.