I’m sure that if you are in Italy right now you’ve already noticed quite a number of posters bearing the word “SAGRA”…
It indicates a traditional gastronomical town festival, often dedicated to some specific local food,
and the name itself of the sagra includes that food.
Remember some posts ago?
“La sagra della bistecca”… the beef steak festival.
You can find any kind of festival!
From the watermelon one to the frog one,
from the “Sagra della pizza” to the “Sagra della castagna”
(the chestnut festival).
It depends on the time of the year.
It can last from one to several days and usually local people cook whole meals including many other delicious products (obviously!)
Great traditional recipes and very good prices.
The word “sagra” comes from the Latin “sacrum” which means “sacred”, in fact, in ancient times, all year round, various harvesting occasions were celebrated by religious feasts to thank divinities for the crops. For this reason they were held in front of temples or churches.
In Cortona the local Sagre (plural) are held in the park, the “Parterre” gardens.
Tomorrow and Saturday evening? La “Sagra del fungo porcino”!
The 22nd edition of the porcini mushroom festival… delicious: amazing dishes made with porcini from the rich mountains surrounding Cortona.
Any events tonight?
Yes! The opening of the 8th edition of the European festival of folk music and dances.
No food… but very good entertainment!
Cortona, Piazza della Repubblica, 9.30 pm
