Tortello Festival

The Tortello Festival in Palazzuolo sul Senio

In the small town of Palazzuolo sul Senio, a village in the upper Mugello area of the Province of Florence and the heart of the Tuscan Romagna, the first Sunday of July is always dedicated to the local signature dish: the Palazzuolo tortello. The Tortello Festival, organized by the Pro Loco with the patronage of the Municipality, attracts families, hikers, and food lovers every year who travel up here, among the woods of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, to enjoy a specialty rolled out by hand according to a recipe passed down from generation to generation.

Two tortelli, one passion

The stars of the festival are the tortelli in their two most traditional varieties: the potato tortello, rich and flavorful, and the ricotta and spinach tortello, prepared with cheeses from the local dairy. Giving shape to this goodness are the local sfogline, who dedicate hundreds of hours of work to the artisanal preparation of fresh pasta, using local ingredients. The tortelli are seasoned in various ways—meat sauce, butter and sage, porcini mushrooms—and accompanied by other specialties of Apennine cuisine.

Where to eat

The hub of the day is the Pro Loco gastronomic stand, set up at the Casa del Villeggiante, where volunteers serve lunch and dinner with a menu designed for all palates. But the tortello is the star throughout the village: the local restaurants also offer their own tortelli for the occasion, so that those visiting Palazzuolo can choose where to sit and savor the festival spread throughout the streets of the historic center.

Beyond the table

The Tortello Festival is a true village celebration: in addition to the food and wine, the day is enlivened by shows and entertainment for children, craft stalls, and an evening show with live music that brings the day to a cheerful close. It is the ideal opportunity to discover Palazzuolo sul Senio, one of the most charming villages in the Tuscan Apennines, recognized as one of the most beautiful places in Italy for its authentic atmosphere and the nature that surrounds it.

A village between Tuscany and Romagna

Located along the course of the Senio river, on the border with Emilia-Romagna, Palazzuolo sul Senio is part of the historical territory known as Tuscan Romagna, where the gastronomic traditions of the two regions merge. The tortello is the perfect example: a simple, humble dish in its origins that has become an excellence worthy of a journey over time. The festival is the time of year when this culinary identity is best expressed, gathered around the long tables of the village.