It’s that time of the year when our minds turn to alfresco dining. The Tuscan sagra is the quintessential fuori porta dining experience: great home cooking served in sturdy tents at reasonable prices. Here’s our guide to the very best of Tuscany’s food festivals.
Head to Lari, near Pisa, for the town’s famous cherry festival, May 28–June 5, 2016
Sagra della Lumaca / Snail Festival
Fossa del Lupo, Camucia, near Cortona
May 28–June 5
Start the season the right way with snails, music and fun at the foot of Cortona.
Sagra della Pastasciutta / Pasta Festival
Fratta, near Cortona
June 10–19
Gnocchi, pici and tagliatelle in all sauces, all made by local ladies.
Sagra delle Sagre / The Best of the Casentino
Bibbiena, Casentino
June 25–26
Potato tortelli, ribollita, mushrooms and truffles are washed down with great wine at this Casentino gem.
Sagra della Fragola / Strawberry Festival
Marsiliana, Maremma
May 26–29
The whole of the local area turns out for the Maremma’s biggest sagra.
Sagra delle Ciliegie / Cherry Festival
Lari, near Pisa
May 28–June 5
Now in its 60th year, this festival celebrates the local Lari cherry in its 19 varieties.
Sagra della Bistecca / Steak Festival
Casalguidi, Serravalle Pistoiese
June 1–12
Sink your teeth into a juicy T-bone at this festival with live music.
Thanks to The Tuscan Times correspondents Elisa Scarton (Maremma), Oonagh Stransky (Cortona and Arezzo) and Carolyn Travers (Pescia) for their top sagra tips.
