Strawberry and Chocolate-Filled Fried Calzone Festival

A village festival in the heart of the Sienese Valdichiana

The Strawberry and Chocolate-Filled Fried Calzone Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events in Le Piazze, a small village in the municipality of Cetona, in the province of Siena, on the southern border of Tuscany and Umbria. Every year in early June, the Via dei Mulini sports field becomes the community's beating heart: three days where great food, sweet treats, and live music blend in an authentic atmosphere, far from the main tourist circuits and deeply rooted in the local area.

The stars: strawberries and chocolate-filled fried calzones

As the name suggests, the two specialties that define the festival are seasonal strawberries, sweet and fragrant, and the famous artisanal fried calzones filled with chocolate, prepared fresh by local volunteers. It is these indulgent treats—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—that have made the event famous well beyond the village borders, attracting visitors from across the Valdichiana and nearby Umbrian towns.

Cuisine, conviviality, and music

During the evenings, the restaurant and pizzeria open at 7:00 PM, with lunch service also available on Sunday. Alongside traditional dishes and sweet specialties, the festival offers live music every night, with dance evenings and entertainment designed for all ages. It is a classic Tuscan village festival, where people gather around the table and dance under the stars in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

An eco-friendly event

The event is part of the local Cetona festival circuit that has embraced environmental sustainability: biodegradable tableware instead of single-use plastic and careful waste sorting, supported by the Municipality of Cetona. It is a virtuous example of how gastronomic tradition can coexist with respect for the environment.

Cetona and Le Piazze

As one of Italy's most beautiful villages, Cetona dominates the Sienese countryside with its mountain, preserving a medieval historic center of rare harmony. The village of Le Piazze, nestled among hills and woods, maintains the slow, genuine rhythm of village life: attending the Strawberry Festival is also a way to discover an authentic corner of the lesser-known Tuscany, defined by hospitality, traditions, and honest flavors.