Tortello, Sausage and Bardiccio Festival

A festival that tells the story of the Valdisieve

The Tortello, Sausage and Bardiccio Festival is one of the most beloved gastronomic events in Pelago, a small town in the Valdisieve area in the Province of Florence, nestled at the foot of the Florentine Mountains and just a few kilometers from Vallombrosa. Organized by the A.S.D. Pelago, the event takes place every year between late August and early September. Spread over two weekends, it attracts locals and visitors alike in search of authentic, homemade cuisine rooted in the region's rural traditions.

Bardiccio, the absolute star

The true symbol of the festival is bardiccio, a typical sausage from the Valdisieve (an area encompassing Pelago and Pontassieve), also known as the "crazy sausage." It is made from the less noble cuts of pork and beef, seasoned with wild fennel, garlic, and spices: the result is a bold, rustic flavor that reflects the simple, traditional cooking of the past. At the festival, bardiccio is enjoyed grilled, but also as a sauce for tagliatelle, making it one of the most requested dishes of the evenings.

Potato tortelli and Pelago-style sausage

Alongside the bardiccio, the menu celebrates the other two cornerstones of the local cuisine. The potato tortelli, typical of the Florentine mountains, are handmade with a soft, fragrant filling and served with meat sauce or butter and sage. The Pelago-style sausage completes the trio that gives the event its name. The menu is further enriched by Tuscan appetizers, tagliatelle with bardiccio sauce, mixed roasts, fagioli all'uccelletto (beans in tomato sauce), and grilled meats, finishing with desserts like the famous bomboloni (doughnuts) that bring the evening to a perfect close.

Atmosphere and conviviality

The festival is held at the "La Pira" Pastoral Center on Via Vallombrosana in Pelago, with indoor seating available in case of bad weather. Dinners generally start at 7:00 PM and take place in a festive village atmosphere, with long tables, volunteers in the kitchen, and entertainment to liven up the evenings. It is the perfect opportunity to discover a less touristy corner of Tuscany, among the hills and woods rising toward Vallombrosa, while enjoying dishes you won't find on city restaurant menus.

Where and when

The event takes place in Pelago, in the Province of Florence (Tuscany), over two weekends between late August and early September. Pelago is easily accessible from the Valdisieve and is about half an hour from Florence: an ideal destination for an evening trip to discover the true flavors of the Florentine Mountains.