Traditional Food Festival

Foods of Tradition: the peasant flavors of Val Tidone

In Castel San Giovanni, an important center in the lower Val Tidone in the Province of Piacenza, the Cibi della Tradizione event brings the flavors, products, and knowledge of the Emilian countryside back to the forefront. The event takes place in the setting of the park of Villa Braghieri Albisani, a historic residence surrounded by greenery along the Via Emilia Piacentina, and transforms the villa's garden into a large space dedicated to good food and local culture.

The black-eyed bean, symbol of the territory

The true protagonist is the black-eyed bean, a legume cultivated in the Castellano area for centuries and now rediscovered as an emblem of local agricultural tradition. Tastings, meetings with nutritionists, and stories from producers who have resumed its cultivation revolve around this product. The bean also features in typical Piacenza dishes, starting with the famous pisarei e fasò, and accompanies the gastronomic offerings curated by Pro Loco volunteers, such as the appreciated peasant sandwich.

An event spread across food, culture, and community

Cibi della Tradizione is not just a food festival: it is a community celebration that intertwines taste and culture. The program alternates a farmers' market with about thirty stalls of local products, guided tours of Villa Braghieri led by local experts, workshops and meetings with schools and associations, moments dedicated to dialect and the historical memory of the town, as well as concerts and dances in the evening. There is also an inclusion area with spaces and activities designed for families and children.

The network of Pro Loco and the 'Il Valore Sei Tu' project

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Castel San Giovanni APS with the patronage of the Municipality, as part of the regional project 'Il Valore Sei Tu' promoted by UNPLI Emilia-Romagna. The project networks three territories and three events among the Provinces of Piacenza and Parma: Cibi della Tradizione in Castel San Giovanni, the Festa delle Associazioni in Langhirano, and the Rassegna Provinciale del Tartufo in Pecorara, in a path of accessible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism valorization.

Why it's worth going

If you are looking for an authentic experience away from the main tourist circuits, Cibi della Tradizione is an opportunity to discover the most genuine Val Tidone and Emilia-Romagna: zero-kilometer products, a historic villa to visit, the warm welcome of Pro Loco volunteers, and the pleasure of being together around a table that tells the story of Castel San Giovanni.