Trofarello Amarena Cherry Festival

The Trofarello Amarena Cherry Festival

Every year in early June, the Municipality of Trofarello, in the Province of Turin, dedicates a grand festival to the fruit that defined its agricultural history: the Amarena cherry. The event, organized by the Pro Loco of Trofarello with the patronage of the Municipality, takes place in Piazzale Europa, right next to the train station, and attracts hundreds of visitors from across the Turin metropolitan area every evening.

The Amarena, queen of the Turin hills

The Trofarello Amarena is a small, tart cherry of the Prunus cerasus species, known for its tender, translucent flesh. Its cultivation spread across the Turin hills in the early 20th century, when vineyards devastated by oidium and phylloxera were replaced by cherry trees. While nearby Pecetto specialized in sweet cherries, Trofarello maintained its focus on the Amarena, which ripens later—up until mid-July—and supported a specialized market that remained active until the late 1980s. The festival was born to preserve this tradition and promote a typical Piedmontese product that is now quite rare.

Gastronomy and dance evenings

The heart of the festival is the event restaurant, open every evening from 7:00 PM to midnight, offering a menu ranging from appetizers to lasagna, salads to desserts, not to mention fresh cherries, ice cream, wine, and beer. Each evening is enlivened by music and dance: from traditional Italian ballroom orchestras to DJ sets, salsa and bachata lessons, Brazilian samba shows, and performances by local dance schools. The festival retains the authentic atmosphere of Piedmontese village feasts, where good food is paired with music and great company.

Events for families and the local area

Alongside the gastronomy, the festival offers activities for all ages. The Amarena walk, organized with the support of the local Coldiretti branch, takes participants through the hillside orchards to visit local producers. For children and families, there is Trofabalon, a craft and children's market managed by the Parents' Committee. The grand finale is, by tradition, the election of Miss Amarena.

A popular and free event

Admission to the Amarena Cherry Festival is always free. More than just a culinary event, it is a meeting point for the Trofarello community and visitors from the Turin area, as well as a concrete way to keep alive the memory of a crop that has shaped the landscape and economy of the hills.