Spoja Lorda Festival

A Pasta Born from Peasant Resourcefulness

The Spoja Lorda Festival pays homage to one of the symbols of Romagnol cuisine, celebrated every spring in the heart of Brisighella, a charming hilltop village in the Province of Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna. Spoja lorda is an excellent fresh pasta born from the creativity of peasant families: to avoid waste, leftover filling from cappelletti was spread thinly between two sheets of hand-rolled pasta, creating a pasta "dirty" with filling, hence its dialectal name.

The Star Dish

Spoja lorda is made by filling a pasta sheet with a mixture of fresh cheese, Parmigiano, eggs, and nutmeg, then covering it with a second sheet and cutting it with a pastry wheel into small squares. It is traditionally enjoyed in broth, as is customary on Sundays and festive occasions, or served dry with local seasonings. During the day, you can taste it at the food stall set up for the occasion and in the town's restaurants.

The Festival Program

For an entire day, the streets of Brisighella's historic center transform into a culinary journey. The program includes:

• Market of typical products and local crafts along the village streets;
• Food stall with a themed menu dedicated to spoja lorda and Romagnol recipes;
• Demonstrations by pasta makers, who prepare fresh hand-rolled pasta live;
• Music and widespread entertainment in the squares and alleys;
• the opportunity to discover the village, its elevated streets, and its monuments.

Brisighella, One of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages

The festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit the Municipality of Brisighella, awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano and included among Italy's Most Beautiful Villages. Dominated by three hills with the Manfrediana Fortress, the Clock Tower, and the Sanctuary of Monticino, the village is famous for the evocative Via degli Asini, an ancient elevated covered street. A setting that makes the Spoja Lorda not just a food and wine festival, but a stroll through Romagnol tradition.

Organization

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Brisighella in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region. Admission to the event is free; tastings are paid for at the food stall.