Traditional Tortellino Festival and Saint Nicholas Feast

The festival celebrating Castelfranco Emilia's tortellino

Every year, during the second week of September, the Municipality of Castelfranco Emilia, in the province of Modena, dedicates over ten days of celebration to its most famous product: the Traditional Tortellino. The Traditional Tortellino Festival and Saint Nicholas Feast, organized by the La San Nicola Volunteer Association, combines religious devotion, gastronomic tradition, and historical re-enactment into one grand popular event in Emilia-Romagna.

The legend of the innkeeper and the lady

Castelfranco Emilia proudly claims paternity of the tortellino. According to the most famous legend, the innkeeper of the ancient Osteria della Dogana, peeking through the keyhole at a noblewoman traveling (for some, Venus herself), was captivated by the beauty of her navel. Returning to the kitchen, he shaped an egg pasta dough into the form we still know today. From this story arises the most anticipated moment of the festival, the grand Historical Pageant on Sunday, with hundreds of costumed figures parading through the historic center to elect the Innkeeper and the Lady, guardians of tradition for the coming year.

Tortellino in capon broth

The absolute protagonist is the handmade tortellino, rolled with a pin by the 'azdore' (female pasta makers) and served strictly in capon broth. The filling follows a codified recipe: pork loin, Prosciutto di Modena, Mortadella di Bologna, Parmigiano Reggiano, eggs, salt, and nutmeg. At the stands in Piazza della Vittoria, you can taste, along with tortellino, many other typical products of Emilian cuisine, from cured meats to local wines.

Concerts, shows, and races

The festival is not just about gastronomy: during the evenings, the town comes alive with concerts, shows, and free cultural initiatives, spread across Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Bergamini, and the streets of the center. There are also sporting events, such as the running race and half-marathon associated with the feast, and convivial moments like the famous Sunday Tortellino Lunch. The most intense and spectacular days are concentrated in the final weekends of the event.

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

The religious component of the feast, whose origins date back to the 16th century, is dedicated to the veneration of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and has accompanied the life of the Castelfranco community for centuries, intertwining over time with the celebration of tortellino to give rise to the current event.

An unmissable event in Emilia-Romagna

Now in its many editions, the Traditional Tortellino Festival is today a reference point for lovers of Emilian cuisine and for those who want to discover the popular traditions of the Modena area. A perfect opportunity to taste a symbolic Italian dish directly in the place that claims its origin.