Food & Wine: Food Festivals (Sagras) in Le Marche
Pretty well every town and village throughout Le Marche has some food or wine event, known as a sagra. They are usually held in the summer months, apart from those celebrating autumnal produce, such as chestnuts.
They consist of a feast of the particular local food or drink in question, with trestle tables set out in the streets, and they are open to everyone. You can sit down with a large cheerful group of local people and visitors, and enjoy the best of traditional, local produce cooked to perfection.
There are always other events held at the same time, such as concerts, fairs and dances. Sagre were originally held for religious purposes, to thank the deity responsible for providing the bounty, and to ensure a good season the following year. They would originally have been held in front of a temple or church and often involved the sacrifice of animals. The meat would then be divided among the local inhabitants. Fortunately, nowadays you don’t have to witness the killing of the beast, but the food is just as fresh and wholesome as ever.
Le Marche is one of the regions in Italy with the greatest number of Sagras partly as a result of its wide range of products and typical dishes but mainly because it is one of the regions that is committed to and takes great pride in promoting local products and tradional food prepared with centuries-old know-how and recipes.
Please find below a guide to the festivals in each of the five provinces of Le Marche!
Pesaro & Urbino
Sagra del Pesce (Fish Festival)
Sagra del Formaggio di Fossa (Cheese Festival)
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival)
Sagra del Vino (Wine Festival)
Sagra della Pappardella al Cinghiale (Wild Boar Pasta Festival)
Festa del Brodetto (Fish Stew Festival)
Macerata
Sagra della Lumaca (Snail Festival)
Sagra della Polenta (Polenta Festival)
Sagra del Pecorino (Pecorino Cheese Festival)
Sagra dell'Asparago (Asparagus Festival)
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival)
Sagra del Ciauscolo (Spreadable Salami)
Fermo
Sagra delle Cozze (Mussels)
Maccheroncini di Campofilone (Angel Hair Pasta)
Sagra del Ciauscolo (Spreadable Salami)
Sagra delle Quaglie (Quail)
Sagra del Vino Cotto (Cooked Wine Festival)
Sagra del Brodetto di Porto San Giorgio (Fish Stew Festival)
Sagra della Polenta (Polenta Festival)
Sagra del Polentone (Polenta Festival)
Sagra del Piceno (Traditional Cuisine Festival)
Sagra della Crescia (Flatbread)
Ancona
Sagra del Brodetto (Fish Stew Festival) di Porto Recanati
Sagra del Pesce (Fish)
Sagra delle Vongole Veraci (Clam Festival)
Sagra della Salsiccia (Sausage Festival)
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival)
Sagra del Calamari (Squid Festival)
Sagra della Porchetta (Roasted Pork Festival)
Festa del Vino (Wine Festival)
Sagra della Lumaca (Snail Festival)
Sagra della Polenta (Polenta Festival)
Ascoli Piceno
Sagra della Olive all'Ascolana (Olive Ascolana Festival)
Sagra del Tartufo Nero Pregiato (Black Truffle Festival)
Sagra della Porchetta (Roasted Pork Festival)
Sagra dei Vincisgrassi (Regional Lasagne Festival)
Sagra della Polenta e Cotechino (Polenta & Sausage Festival)
Festa della Lumaca (Snail Festival)
Sagra degli Strozzapreti (Hand-rolled Pasta Festival)
Sagra delle Frittelle (Doughnuts)
Sagra della Salsiccia (Sausages)
Sagra della Vitella allo Spiedo (Spit-Roast Veal)
Sagra del Pesce (Fish Festival), Fano, province of Pesaro Urbino
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Fano hosts the Sagra del Pesce, a festival dedicated to seafood. Visitors can enjoy a variety of freshly caught fish and seafood dishes, prepared in traditional and creative ways.
Sagra del Vino (Wine Festival), Gradara, province of Pesaro Urbino
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Gradara holds the Sagra del Vino, a festival dedicated to local wines. Visitors can taste a variety of wines from the region and enjoy live music and entertainment.
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival), Acqualagna, province of Pesaro Urbino
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Acqualagna, known as the "truffle capital," hosts the Sagra del Tartufo, a festival dedicated to truffles. Visitors can indulge in truffle-based dishes, attend truffle hunting demonstrations, and explore the world of truffle products.
Sagra della Pappardella al Cinghiale (Wild Boar Pasta Festival), Sant'Angelo in Vado, province of Pesaro Urbino
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This festival celebrates pappardelle pasta served with a hearty wild boar sauce. Visitors can savour this traditional dish along with other local specialties.
Festa del Brodetto (Fish Stew Festival), Fano, Sant'Angelo in Vado, province of Pesaro Urbino
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This festival celebrates pappardelle pasta served with a hearty wild boar sauce. Visitors can savour this traditional dish along with other local specialties.
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival), Acqualagna, province of Pesaro Urbino
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Acqualagna hosts the Sagra del Tartufo, a festival dedicated to the prized truffle. Visitors can indulge in truffle-based dishes, purchase truffle products, and witness truffle hunting demonstrations.
Sagra del Pesce (Fish), Montemarciano, province of Ancona
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For more than 40 years the fish festival has been held in the village, along with music and dancing late into the night. The fish is served in a variety of forms, including pasta dishes and the famous fritto misto (a selection of shell fish and fish lightly fried in batter).
Sagra del Brodetto di Porto Recanati, province of Ancona
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The Sagra del Brodetto is a festival dedicated to the traditional fish stew dish called brodetto. It takes place in Porto Recanati and offers visitors a chance to sample different variations of this flavourful seafood specialty.
Sagra delle Vongole Veraci (Clam Festival), Numana, province of Ancona
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This festival celebrates veracious clams, a local delicacy. Held in Numana, visitors can enjoy various clam dishes, including spaghetti alle vongole, risotto, and more.
Sagra della Salsiccia (Sausage Festival), Senigallia, province of Ancona
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The Sagra della Salsiccia in Senigallia is a festival dedicated to sausages. It showcases different types of locally made sausages, grilled and served with traditional accompaniments.
Sagra del Calamari (Squid Festival), Ancona, province of Ancona
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The Sagra del Calamari takes place in Ancona and celebrates squid, a popular seafood ingredient. Visitors can enjoy various squid dishes, including fried calamari, stuffed squid, and more.
Sagra della Porchetta, Arcevia, province of Ancona
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The Sagra della Porchetta in Arcevia is dedicated to porchetta, a succulent roasted pork dish. It offers a chance to savour different preparations of this regional specialty
Festa del Vino (Wine Festival), Jesi, province of Ancona
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The Festa del Vino in Jesi is a celebration of the region's famous Verdicchio wine. Visitors can taste a wide variety of Verdicchio wines and enjoy local food specialties.
Sagra della Lumaca (Snail Festival), Cupramontana, province of Ancona
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Cupramontana hosts a snail festival like the one in Ascoli Piceno, where visitors can taste various snail dishes and learn about the local culinary traditions.
Sagra della Polenta, Serra San Quirico, province of Ancona
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This festival in Serra San Quirico celebrates polenta, a cornmeal-based dish. Visitors can taste different types of polenta dishes accompanied by local meats, cheeses, and wines.
Sagra della Lumaca (Snail Festival), province of Macerata
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This festival celebrates the local snail delicacy and takes place in various towns in the province, such as Montecosaro. Visitors can sample different snail dishes prepared in various styles and learn about the traditional snail farming practices.
Sagra della Polenta, Montelupone, province of Macerata
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The Sagra della Polenta in Montelupone is dedicated to polenta, a traditional cornmeal dish. It offers a chance to taste different types of polenta recipes, including both savoury and sweet variations.
Sagra del Pecorino, Sarnano, province of Macerata
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Held in Sarnano, the Sagra del Pecorino is a festival dedicated to pecorino cheese, a popular local specialty. Visitors can sample a wide variety of pecorino cheeses, paired with local wines and traditional accompaniments.
Sagra dell'Asparago, province of Macerata
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This festival celebrates asparagus and takes place in various towns in the province, such as Camerino. Visitors can enjoy a variety of dishes featuring asparagus, from soups and risottos to salads and side dishes.
Sagra del Tartufo (Truffle Festival), Sant'Angelo in Pontano, province of Macerata
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The Sagra del Tartufo in Sant'Angelo in Pontano celebrates truffles, including both black and white varieties. It offers a chance to taste truffle-based dishes and products, along with truffle hunting demonstrations and educational activities.
Sagra del Ciauscolo, Colmurano, province of Macerata
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The Sagra del Ciauscolo in Colmurano is dedicated to ciauscolo, a soft and spreadable salami. Visitors can enjoy this regional delicacy along with other local products.
Sagra delle Cozze (Mussels), Pedaso, province of Fermo
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This sagra has been celebrated for the past fifty years. It is also rated as amongst the top five national sagre and attracts visitors from all over Le Marche region and beyond. The mussels are invariably served with the proverbial spaghetti alla Marinara.
Maccheroncini di Campofilone (Angel Hair Pasta), Campofilone, province of Fermo
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This thin, delicate pasta dates back to the 15th century in this region. The recipe has been handed down from mother to daughter ever since, and it is now famous worldwide. It is made with the best quality flour and eggs, but no water, and then dried naturally. It is wonderful eaten with a meat sauce (ragu) but is also delicious served simply with some extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of parmesan.
Sagra del Ciauscolo (Spreadable Salami), Moresco, province of Fermo
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This is a spreadable salami which is typically produced in the region of Le Marche , especially within the province of Macerata. It is sometimes also spelled ciavuscolo or ciabuscolo. Ciauscolo is a smoked and dry-cured sausage, made from pork meat and fat. It can easily be spread and served on a slice of bread/toast or as individual slices. This sagra also offers a variety of new recipes made with Ciauscolo including hamburgers, olives stuffed with Ciauscolo, breaded and deep-fried or Ciauscolo served as a roulade.
Sagra delle Quaglie (Quail), Monte Vidon Combatte, province of Fermo
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The Quail festival is one of the oldest in the Marche and offers succulent roast quail, as well as many other local delicacies. The food is served with the delicious local Rosso Piceno red wine.
Sagra della Polenta, Fermo, province of Fermo
If you like polenta you will love this sagra! The fresh, satisfying polenta is served with a variety of sauces including everything from Italian sausage to shellfish. A live band and dancing is also part of the event.
Sagra del Polentone, Montegiorgio, province of Fermo
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Held in Montegiorgio, the Sagra del Polentone is a festival dedicated to polenta, a cornmeal-based dish. Visitors can sample various polenta dishes, both sweet and savoury, and experience the traditional preparation methods.
Sagra del Piceno, Monte Giberto, province of Fermo
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This festival in Monte Giberto showcases the traditional cuisine of the Piceno area. It offers a wide variety of dishes, including homemade pasta, local meats, cheeses, and desserts, allowing visitors to savour the authentic flavours of the region.
Sagra del Vino Cotto, province of Fermo
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This festival is dedicated to Vino Cotto, a traditional sweet wine produced in Le Marche. It takes place in various towns in the province, such as Montelparo, where visitors can taste and learn about the production of this unique wine.
Sagra della Crescia, province of Fermo
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The Sagra della Crescia takes place in various towns in the province, such as Montefalcone Appennino. It celebrates the crescia, a traditional flatbread typically made with flour, water, and yeast. Visitors can enjoy this delicious bread served with a variety of local cheeses, cured meats, and other typical accompaniments.
Sagra del Brodetto di Porto San Giorgio, province of Fermo
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The Sagra del Brodetto in Porto San Giorgio is a celebration of the traditional fish stew dish called brodetto. It offers an opportunity to taste different versions of this flavourful seafood specialty, prepared using fresh local ingredients.
Sagra delle frittelle (Doughnuts), Massignano, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival has been in its present form for more than 50 years and is one of the most popular in the Marche. The little doughnuts are unique to this region, and are crisp on the outside and soft and light inside, flavoured with lemon and cinnamon. Of course there are many other dishes available, and lots of fun and entertainment.
Sagra della Salsiccia (Sausages), Carassai, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This sagra has been awarded the PPP certificate (for Price, Professionalism and Product) and offers a delicious selection of locally made sausages and other complementary dishes, all served with wonderful wine and in a great, friendly atmosphere.
Sagra della Vitella allo Spiedo (Spit-Roast Veal), Venarotta, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This Sagra is also held in August and spit-roast veal is prepared in the time-honoured way and served hot, tender and succulent. Many other local specialities are also in offer, as well as games, dancing and music. This is a great opportunity for the visitor to experience life in this lovely village as it has been lived for centuries, side by side with the local people.
Sagra della Frutta, Montefiore dell'Aso, province of Ascoli Piceno
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The Festival takes its origins from the ancient Peach Festival born in 1955 at Montefiore dell'Aso. The new name was born in 1989 when the first “eno-gastronomic” (i.e. food and wine tourism) event for the appreciation and promotion of Valdaso fruit was organized at Parco de Vecchis. The event is rich and varied, usually organized in the last weekend of July, promoted by Pro Loco Montefiore.
There are many typical dishes that can be tasted with different fruit-based recipes. There are four restored dining areas, the Locanda Flora with local specialties and fruit-based dishes, the Arena Canta magna e bbeva with street food, the Winery of the Rliccati with aperitifs and snacks and the Chiosco de li Clandestini dedicated to after dinner. This festival also offers entertainment with live music, children's shows, DJ set and guided tours, fruit market and display of fruit decorations and amazing fruit carvings.
La Maialata (Piglet), Montefiore dell'Aso, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This event is organised as a fundraiser for the local ambulance service, and attracts hundreds of hungry visitors. It is held in the impressive old town centre and offers stalls with pork products of all descriptions, including sausages, ribs, chops, salami – the list goes on.
All can be eaten with local polenta, homemade bread and, of course, the local red wine, the Rosso Piceno, produced from grapes grown on the surrounding hills. A glutton’s heaven on earth! Lots of fun and entertainment for adults and children is also on offer
Sagra del Tartufo Nero Pregiato (Black Truffle Festival), Acquasanta Terme, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival is dedicated to the prized black truffle. Held in Acquasanta Terme, it offers a chance to indulge in truffle-based dishes and products, as well as participate in truffle hunting demonstrations.
Sagra della Porchetta, province of Ascoli Piceno
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The Sagra della Porchetta takes place in various towns in the province, including Appignano del Tronto. It celebrates porchetta, a succulent roasted pork dish, and showcases different preparations of this regional specialty.
Sagra dei Vincisgrassi, Comunanza, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival in Comunanza celebrates Vincisgrassi, a local version of lasagna. Visitors can enjoy this rich and flavourful dish made with layers of pasta, meat, cheese, and béchamel sauce.
Sagra della Olive all'Ascolana, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival celebrates the renowned Olive all'Ascolana, a local specialty of fried and stuffed olives. It takes place in various towns in the province, including Ascoli Piceno, where visitors can savour different variations of this delicious snack.
Festa della Lumaca (Snail Festival), Ascoli Piceno, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival takes place in Ascoli Piceno and celebrates the local snail delicacy, featuring various dishes prepared with snails.
Sagra degli Strozzapreti, Offida, province of Ascoli Piceno
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This festival in Offida celebrates strozzapreti, a traditional local pasta shape. Visitors can sample different varieties of strozzapreti dishes paired with local wines.
Sagra della Polenta e Cotechino, Castignano, province of Ascoli Piceno
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Held in Castignano, this festival celebrates polenta, a traditional cornmeal dish, and cotechino, a flavourful Italian sausage. Visitors can taste various polenta dishes served with cotechino and other traditional accompaniments.