Wild Boar Festival of Montiano

A festival dedicated to wild boar in the Cesena hills

The Wild Boar Festival in Montiano, in the heart of the hills of the province of Forlì-Cesena, is now an anticipated event on the spring gastronomic calendar of Emilia-Romagna. Born a few years ago on the initiative of the Pro Loco Montiano, the festival has quickly established itself as one of the most beloved village festivals in the Romagna hinterland, capable of attracting visitors from all over Romagna with each edition.

The flavors take center stage

The true heart of the event is the cuisine. The gastronomic stand offers a menu entirely dedicated to game, with dishes that bring the peasant and hunting traditions of these hills to the table:

• Pappardelle or cappelletti with wild boar ragù, the signature first courses of the festival;
• Slow-cooked wild boar stew;
• Wild boar porchetta and grilled wild boar sausage;
• Aged wild boar salami;
• Wild boar head cheese, a rare specialty that has been offered in Montiano for some years and is difficult to find at other festivals.

Some local hunters also contribute to the success of the festival, providing the raw ingredients and the expertise necessary for authentic game cooking.

Music, markets, and walks

In addition to food, the festival offers entertainment for all ages. The evenings are enlivened by live concerts with bands and tribute groups, while Sunday mornings feature a market selling local crafts, sweets, and products from local farms. For the little ones, there is Pompieropoli, a fun play area inspired by the world of firefighters.

A distinctive feature of the event is the guided walks along the poetic paths of Montiano: two routes of different lengths, one shorter of about 6 km and a more challenging one of about 12 km, which allow visitors to discover the hilly landscape around the village before sitting down to eat.

A village to discover

Montiano is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Forlì-Cesena, a medieval village overlooking the Rubicone river valley. Participating in the Wild Boar Festival is also an opportunity to visit the historic center and admire the panoramic views of the hills separating the Romagna plain from the Apennines.