Zuppa alla Frantoiana Festival

A festival that tells the story of Lucchese cuisine

Every summer, in July, the village of Segromigno in Piano, in the municipality of Capannori (province of Lucca, Tuscany), becomes a meeting point for lovers of traditional cuisine. The Zuppa alla Frantoiana Festival is one of the longest-running and most popular village feasts in the Lucca Plain: it awaits you for four consecutive weekends at the E. Paoli sports field on Via dei Bocchi, with food stalls run by U.S.D. Folgore and plenty of evenings filled with great food and music.

Zuppa alla Frantoiana, the absolute star

The dish that gives the festival its name is a true institution of Lucchese cuisine. Zuppa alla Frantoiana originated during the olive pressing season, when freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil is at its most fragrant. It is a rustic and hearty soup, prepared with seasonal vegetables such as black kale, cabbage, leeks, pumpkin, beans, onions, carrots, and celery, seasoned with aromatic herbs and served over slices of toasted stale Tuscan bread rubbed with garlic. To top it all off, a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil enhances its flavor. It is a dish with humble origins but incredibly rich in taste, a symbol of a cuisine that wastes nothing and celebrates the products of the land.

The Zuppa Challenge

Among the most anticipated events is the Zuppa Challenge, a competition that compares different interpretations of this recipe every year. Like many traditional preparations, Zuppa alla Frantoiana exists in many versions passed down from family to family: the challenge thus becomes a way to celebrate this variety and reward the most skilled cooks.

Not just soup: many local specialties

Over the four weekends, the stalls offer many other typical specialties of the Lucca area, from first courses to traditional main dishes, and even homemade desserts. The festival is an opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of Tuscany in a friendly and welcoming setting, far from the most crowded tourist circuits.

Music and conviviality

After dinner, the festival continues with live music: every evening, musical entertainment enlivens the dance floor, where guests dance to the rhythm of local orchestras. It is the soul of Tuscan village festivals, where food is always accompanied by celebration and togetherness.