Storo Polenta Festival

The Storo Polenta Festival

In the municipality of Storo, located in the Chiese Valley at the south-western tip of Trentino-Alto Adige, polenta is more than just a dish: it is an identity. The Storo Polenta Festival was established in 2015 by the Pro Loco of Storo and the Agri '90 Cooperative, and in just a few years, it has become the most anticipated autumn event in the lower Chiese Valley. The festival brings the streets and squares of the historic centre—Piazza Europa, Piazza Unità d'Italia, Piazza Malfer, Piazza Lucillo Grassi, Via Conciliazione, Via Roma, and Via Trento—to life with tastings, markets, and cultural events.

The Gold of Storo: Nostrano yellow cornmeal

The absolute star is the Storo yellow cornmeal, derived from the Nostrano di Storo maize variety (part of the Marano family), grown in the valley floor fields at an altitude of about 500 metres. The cobs, with kernels as bright as gold, are harvested in early October and dried naturally before being stone-ground according to ancient peasant traditions. It was the Agri '90 Cooperative, founded in Storo in 1990 by about thirty members led by Vigilio Giovanelli, that saved and relaunched this crop, which is now a true local landmark.

The six varieties of polenta

The gastronomic heart of the festival is the tasting of the various polentas, each prepared in a different town square:

• Polenta Carbonera in Piazza Europa;
• Polenta Macafana in Piazza Lucillo Grassi;
• Potato Polenta in Piazza Malfer;
• Polenta and Turnips at the Alimentari Poli Lucia e Figli shop;
• Polenta and Molche in Piazza Unità d'Italia;
• plus the classic polenta with spit-roasted meat and variations with walnuts and mortadella.

More than just food

The Storo Polenta Festival combines dining with culture and community. The programme includes technical conferences dedicated to the future of young people in agriculture and the origins of maize (organised by the Centro Studi Grandi Migrazioni), guided tours of the town, music by the Storo Social Band and folk groups, and the famous "SpaventaPasseri in Sagra" (Scarecrow Festival) competition, which colours the streets with original creations awarded on the final evening. A free, family-friendly event that tells the story of the Chiese Valley through its most authentic flavours.