Valenza Focaccette Festival

A festival dedicated to an ancient dish

Every spring, the small village of Valenza, in the municipality of Aulla (in the province of Massa-Carrara, in Lunigiana, the northernmost corner of Tuscany), comes alive for the Valenza Focaccette Festival. It is one of those village feasts that tell the story of a territory through its food: the absolute stars are the focaccette, a humble and ancient preparation of Lunigiana cuisine, served here hot and fragrant just as tradition dictates.

The focaccette: history and preparation

Focaccette are thin, unleavened flatbreads made by mixing wheat flour with a little cornmeal, salt, natural yeast, and water. A written record from 1881, in Raffaello Raffaelli's agricultural monograph, notes that "in lower Lunigiana, they make great use of certain corn flatbreads cooked in terracotta discs." The secret lies in the cooking: the terracotta testi (or iron alternatives) are heated until red-hot over a fire and then stacked on top of each other, with the focaccetta enclosed between two hot discs that cook it with their intense heat.

Once ready, the focaccette are enjoyed with fillings: local cured meats and cheeses, especially pancetta and lardo, perhaps with a drop of honey, or the typical "chiodo" (a local pork sausage). It is a rustic street food that has survived for generations and can be tasted fresh out of the oven in Valenza.

More than just focaccette

In addition to the focaccette, the festival's food stalls offer grilled meats and numerous other specialties from this flourishing area of northern Tuscany, accompanied by the genuine flavors of Lunigiana. The event takes place in a location with ample space both outdoors and indoors, ensuring visitors can be accommodated and the festival can continue even in the event of bad weather.

A community celebration

Organized by the Pro Loco Valenza Domani Association, the festival is a deeply felt event for the inhabitants of Aulla and the neighboring towns of Lunigiana, who come here to rediscover the flavors of their childhood in a familiar and convivial atmosphere. For those visiting the area, it is also the perfect opportunity to discover a signature product of the territory and combine it with a walk through the villages, castles, and abbeys of this part of Tuscany that remains largely untouched by mass tourism.