World Festival of Bruscandolo and Bruscanbike - Agostino Canella Memorial

A Spring Festival Along the Po

The World Festival of Bruscandolo takes place every year in May in Berra, a hamlet of the Municipality of Riva del Po, in the province of Ferrara, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. The event is organized by the Berrese Culture & Entertainment Association, in collaboration with the "La Colomba" Social Centre and with the patronage of the Municipality of Riva del Po. Created to enhance local traditions and promote the Terre dei Fiumi territory, it is now an eagerly awaited event for the entire lower Ferrara plain.

What is Bruscandolo?

Bruscandolo is the dialect name for the spontaneous sprout of wild hops, a plant that grows abundantly along the banks and ditches of the Po River in the spring months. With a delicate flavor reminiscent of asparagus, and a characteristic slightly bitter undertone, it has always been a humble yet precious ingredient in local peasant cuisine. Hand-picked along the floodplains, bruscandolo is mainly used to prepare risottos and omelets, dishes that in Berra become the true stars of the table.

The Food Stands

The heart of the festival are the food stands set up in the village squares, where stands from the Pro Loco and volunteers offer the typical bruscandolo-based menu. You can enjoy risottos, omelets, and other traditional specialties, accompanied by local wines and products. Kitchen service is available for both lunch and dinner, in a convivial atmosphere typical of Emilia's village festivals.

The Bruscanbike and the Program

Alongside the gastronomic offerings is the Bruscanbike - Agostino Canella Memorial, a non-competitive cycling tour through the lands of bruscandolo, with registration and check-in at the Berra bell tower. The event also includes entertainment, music, dance performances, exhibitions, and activities for families, which liven up the two days of celebration along the banks of the great river.

A Territory to Discover

Visiting the World Festival of Bruscandolo also means discovering the river landscape of the lower Ferrara region, with its banks, floodplains, and small villages overlooking the Po. Berra and the Municipality of Riva del Po preserve a strong rural identity, made up of gastronomic traditions, cycle paths along the river, and genuine hospitality, which the festival helps to keep alive from one edition to the next.