Zuppa alla Paesana Festival

One of Tuscany's oldest festivals

The Zuppa alla Paesana Festival in Santa Maria del Giudice, a village in the Municipality of Lucca nestled on the slopes of Monte Pisano, is one of the longest-running and most well-known gastronomic events in the province of Lucca and all of Tuscany. Established in the early seventies, the festival has surpassed its fiftieth edition and continues to attract thousands of visitors every summer, loyal to an event that has become a classic of the Lucchese summer.

Zuppa alla paesana, queen of peasant tradition

The heart of the festival is the zuppa alla paesana, a humble dish born in the peasant kitchens of the Lucca area: stale bread, seasonal vegetables, beans, and black kale make up a simple and hearty dish, still one of the most loved and recurring on the tables of Lucchese families today. The festival celebrates its identity, serving it according to the traditional recipe.

Alongside the soup, the food stand offers other local specialties: fragrant grilled meat, marinated salt cod, and delicious torte co' becchi, a typical Lucchese dessert with a characteristic pointed crust. Everything is served under a large marquee, both indoors and outdoors, in a lively popular atmosphere.

Music, dancing, and concerts every night

The festival is not just about food: every evening is enlivened by dance orchestras, with alternative shows such as dance school performances, DJ sets, and, for the 2026 edition, two major live concerts with top-tier artists. The cheerful and convivial atmosphere, with ballroom music, group dances, and crowded tables, has always been one of the hallmarks of this village festival.

A staple of the Lucchese summer

Spanning three weekends between late July and early August, the Zuppa alla Paesana Festival is organized by the Gruppo Santa Maria del Giudice and takes place on Via XXIV Maggio, in the heart of the village. Admission is always free: you only pay for what you consume. It is the ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Lucchese countryside, between Monte Pisano and the city of Lucca, and to savor genuine cuisine linked to the roots of the territory.