St. George's Mushroom Festival and Shepherd's Days

The prugnolo: the star of spring in the Valtiberina

The St. George's Mushroom Festival and Shepherd's Days is one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of spring in the province of Arezzo. Every year in mid-May, the village of Pieve Santo Stefano, overlooking the Upper Tiber Valley in the Valtiberina, dedicates three days of festivities to the prugnolo (Calocybe gambosa), the famous St. George's mushroom that sprouts in local meadows and woods during the spring weeks. It is a rare and highly fragrant product, a symbol of Tuscan mountain cuisine, which here becomes the common thread of an entire traditional menu.

The flavors of the festival

The food stalls set up by Pro Loco volunteers offer dishes where the prugnolo is the absolute star. Among the most beloved specialties are prugnolo crostini, mini tortelli, prugnolo tagliolini, polenta with mushrooms, and roast beef accompanied by mushrooms and roasted potatoes. Alongside the mushroom, another staple of local cuisine is featured: the tortello di patate cotto alla lastra (potato tortello cooked on a stone slab), prepared according to ancient local custom. Don't miss the prugnolaia and the fried ciaccie, served at the former kindergarten area.

The Shepherd's Days

The event is not just about gastronomy: the Shepherd's Days pay homage to the figure of the shepherd, guardian of the ancient agro-pastoral traditions of the Valtiberina. Among the most characteristic events is the practical demonstration of cheese-making, which recounts ancient knowledge still alive in these Apennine valleys.

Music, sports, and nature

The program in Pieve Santo Stefano is rich and suitable for everyone. Evenings are enlivened by live music, with dance orchestras and concerts in Piazza della Collegiata, while sports enthusiasts can participate in the beach volleyball tournament and the pairs briscola card game. Nature lovers will find the Eco-walk and the Prugnolo Bike, hiking and cycling excursions through the landscapes of the Valtiberina, as well as the evocative truffle dog search competitions. There is also space for the little ones, with workshops and games, and for the brass band tradition with the band gathering that closes the festival.

A village to discover

Pieve Santo Stefano, also known as the "City of the Diary" for its famous Diary Archive, is a small town in the Province of Arezzo nestled among the mountains of eastern Tuscany, on the border with Umbria and Romagna. The festival is the ideal opportunity to combine a food and wine trip with the discovery of an authentic territory, far from the most crowded tourist routes.