Treschietto Onion Festival

A festival that tells the story of a Lunigiana village

At the foot of the medieval castle ruins of the Malaspina marquises, in the small village of Treschietto, a hamlet of the municipality of Bagnone in the province of Massa-Carrara, the Treschietto Onion Festival returns every spring. It is one of the most cherished events in Lunigiana, the northernmost corner of Tuscany nestled between the Apennines and the Apuan Alps, and was created to showcase a product as humble as it is precious: the onion that bears the village's name.

The Treschietto Onion, a peasant treasure

The Treschietto Onion is a local variety with a small, rounded shape, recognizable by the ruby-red color of its outer skin and its white flesh veined with pink streaks. Cultivated in the valleys at the foot of the castle, it has preserved its purity thanks to the village's geographic isolation and the care with which farmers have guarded the seeds from generation to generation. Its delicate flavor and great versatility in the kitchen make it the perfect ingredient for the numerous traditional Lunigiana recipes that bring the festival to life.

The flavors of the festival

The heart of the festival is the table. The food stalls, set up in the marquee near the church of San Giovanni Battista, offer a menu that puts the onion at the center of every course: onion pie, barbotta, cipollata (classic onion soup), testaroli dressed with oil and parmesan, raw onions in pinzimonio, penne with onion sauce, and scalloped meat in sauce. There is no shortage of local cold cuts and cheeses, as well as desserts to finish the meal, all in a convivial and festive atmosphere that is an essential part of the experience.

A village to discover

The festival is also an opportunity to visit the enchanting ancient village of Treschietto, dominated by the castle ruins and overlooking the Bagnone valley. Bagnone has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club, a recognition dedicated to small inland towns that stand out for the quality of their hospitality and heritage. Visiting Treschietto during the festival means combining a gastronomic discovery with the exploration of a landscape and history that tell the story of the most authentic Lunigiana.