Have you ever come across the Italian word “Ferragosto”?
It refers to a special holiday instituted by the roman emperor Ottaviano Augusto (18^th century b.C.); in fact “Ferragosto” comes from the Latin “Feriae Augusti” which simply meant “Augusto’s rest”.
It also happens to coincide with the Catholic event of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
So: double celebration!!
In Cortona we celebrate it by eating grilled beef steak …(!?)

From every home, garden or restaurant there will be delicious smell of fresh meat cooked in the simplest but best of ways!…for me at least!

If you happen to be around Cortona at this time of the year you’d better not miss the famous “SAGRA DELLA BISTECCA”, the Beef steak festival! This year it will be at its 51^st edition.

In our beautiful 19^th century park, the Parterre, will be a 14 meters long grill! An enormous barbecue surrounded by our local men, in aprons, holding very long forks cooking T-Bone steaks, sausages and spare-ribs. All these you can taste along with Chianti wine, local cheeses and more …on the 14^th and 15^th of August!

Deeeelish!