Eating Your Way Through Le Marche - August 2008 Festivals

Agosto - August, the end of summer yet the festivities continue & so does our series!

August 2008

Pesaro
Rossini Opera Festival - All month

Pesaro dulcis in centro - Wednesday to Friday
Evening shopping, concerts, exhibitions, entertainment for kids, creative workshops, food tastings, guided tours, culture walks, lectures & more.

Cinema sotto le stelle - Cinema under the stars
Macerata Feltria & Pesaro
Starting at 9pm

Acqualanga
Fiera regionale del tartufo d'estate - 1st weekend
Regional summer truffle festival, gastronomic specialties a
ll day in Piazza Mattei

Frontino
Il trionfo del tartufo nero - 1st Sunday
The triumph of the black truffle, convention, truffle market, gastronomic stands, arts & crafts, wine tastings, music, dancing & live entertainment in the old center

Gabicce Mare
Mercatino di prodotti naturali - Thursday & Sunday at 8:30pm
Natural products market at Gabicce Monte, Piazza Valbruna

Macerata Feltria
Mostra mercato di preziosi d'epoca - 1st weekend, Thursday - Sunday
Antiques market, jewellery, ornaments, lamps, lace, carpets, artists, muscians, gastronomic specialties, fashion show, vintage cars & motorcycles and more! Starts at 6:00pm

Montefelcino
Meractino del feudatario - 1st & 2nd Tuesday
Feudal market, evening time market of almost antiques, curiosities, collector's items, gastronomy, Renaissance costume procession, musical attractions and artistic exhibitions. Starting at 6pm in the old center.

Acqualagna
Fagiolata in Piazza
Bean soup in the town's main square at 8pm
0721.796741

Barchi
I sapori del castello - 1st weekend
Dishes from the past, cellars, crafts, choral & instrumental concerts, live entertainment & fireworks display. Starting at 6pm

Fano
Festa del mare - 1st weekend
Sea festival in the harbor area

Cantiano
Sagra del polentone alla carbonara - 1st Sunday
Polenta festival - over the grill - taste of local food & products starting at 4pm

Cantiano
Sagra del Tartufo - 2nd Saturday
Truffle festival at 4pm

Cagli
Giuoco dell'oca - 2nd Sunday
Historic revival with procession in costume and battles between the local districts - starting at 4pm

Apecchio
Casteldelci
Palio dei Comuni - 2nd Sunday
Inter-district feud and ancient games

Cagli
Festa dei 4 cantoni - 13th
Local district festival, tastes from the past in Pianello di Cagli

Sagra del bostregno - 14th & 15th
Bostregno festival - a local specialty in the afternoon in the old center

Belforte All'Isauro
Tombolone e ballo in piazza - 14th & 15th
Open air bingo & dancing in the town's main square

Borgo Pace
Sagra della Panzanella - 14th & 15th
Festival of panzanella - local bread

Orciano di Pesaro
Mercato antico di San Rocco - 17th & 23rd
The antique market of San Rocco, XIX century market with inns, merchants, minstrels, music, gastronomy & more - staring at 4pm in the old center

Cantiano
Sagra del cinghiale - 17th
Festival of the wild boar starting in the afternoon in San Crescentino

Cantiano
Sagra del gambero di fiume - 3rd Saturday
Crayfish from the river festival

Cantiano
Torneo della balestra "Le Rocche" - 3rd Sunday
Le Rocche crossbow tournament, gastronomic stands starting in the afternoon in the old center.
(San Leo)
San Leo
AlchimiaAlchimie - All day on the 26th
This event is a tribute to Giuseppe Balsamo, better known as Count Cagliostro a famous figure in the Masonic circles of the 18th century, who was imprisoned into the fortress of San Leo and died there on the 26th of August 1795. Live entertainment in the old center with lectures, dinner and a spectacular fireworks display from the fortress.

Apecchio
Ancoragosto - last Friday
End of summer festival at 10:00pm

Borgo Pace
Festa della patata rossa - last weekend
Red potato festival in Piazza del Pino

Of course there are tons more festivities, these are specifically for the Pesaro-Urbino area - all within an hour of our Agriturismo/farmhouse making for the perfect day trip into the Le Marche hill towns!

LaTavolaMarche in Italy

Eating your way through Le Marche - July 2008 Festivals

Here is the next installment of my personal favorite way to travel - eating your way through Northern Le Marche for July Events, Festivals, Market & More! I have added as asterisk * next to particularly interesting or tasty events! Grab a glass of wine because there are a ton of summer fests in July!

JULY 2008
Pesaro
Festa del porto (the week before the 1st weekend)
Harbor festival, traditions, games, sports, gastronomy, exhibitions, music & more - great excuse to spend the day at the beach

Mercatello Sul Metauro
Fiera di Santa Veronica (1st Sunday)
A traditional fair displaying and selling a variety of goods from 6:00am

Mondavio
*Castrum bibendum (1st weekend)
History in a dish, culture in a glass with live entertainment, food & drinks starting at 6:00pm

Monte Cerignone
*Mons Cerignonis (1st weekend)
Historical re-enactments with procession and the Palio of Uguccione (horse race), with fire-eaters & trampolinists, duellers & falconers, comedians and fortune-tellers, theater, live entertainment, medieval markets plus arts & crafts starting at 5pm

Montemaggiore al Metauro
Festa al parco (1st weekend)
Gastronomy, music & live entertainment in the evening

Saltara
Musica e sapori in giardino (Wednesdays)
Concerts and food tastings starting at 9:30pm

Fano
*Festa del patrono (10th)
Feast of the patron saint of Bingo! Seriously - I know it's not food related, but bingo's a blast & they are doing it outside it the main square!

Belforte All'Isauro
*Festa della birra (2nd Friday)
Beer festival!

Novafeltria
*Fiera del diciassette (weekend near July 17th)
Historical re-enactment of the ancient livestock fair with gastronomy and market

Carpegna
Fiera grossa (21st)
Traditional fair selling & displaying a variety of goods and livestock fair all day.

Peglio
*Festa della trebbiatura (3rd weekend)
Harvest festival, grain harvesting with historic equipment, gastronomic stands

Fossombrone
Sagre della Boccabona (3rd weekend)
Festival of the Boccabona, folklore & gastronomy from 7:00pm

Pennabilli
Sagra del cinghiale (3rd weekend)
Wild boar festival -sooo good!

Cartoceto
Festa dei piatti tipici (3rd weekend)
Festival of typical dishes starting at 6pm

Montelabbate
*Sagra delle pesche (3rd weekend)
Peach festival & exhibition, traditional auction sale with evening entertainment. How can you get any more summer than a peach festival?!

Mercatello sul Metauro
*Palio del somaro e sagra della tagliatella (3rd of 4th weekend)
Donkey race and home made tagliatelle need I say more?! Donkey race through the local contoni (city wards), gastronomic stands with tagliatelle and local products all day in the old center. (Other activities for the palio start the week before)

Carpegna
*Festa del prosciutto (penultimate weekend)
Ham festival, promoting the PDO (protected designation of origin) ham from Carpegna with the participation of local producers all day

Monte Grimano Terme
*Sagra del tartufo nero (penultimate weekend)
Festival of the black truffle, promotion of local products with tastings, expositions, musical entertainment - truffles in the summer!

Casteldelci
*Il mare e la montagna (last Saturday)
The sea and the mountain, the fishermen of the Adriatic coast offer their specialties beginning in the afternoon

Oricano di Pesaro
Estate in mercato (last Sunday)
Traditional fair displaying & selling a variety of good all day in the old center.

Pennabilli
Festa della trebbiatura (last Sunday)
Harvest festival

Pergola
*Festa del vino (last weekend)
Wine festival, showcase & market of typical local wines & wine products, wine cellars & tasting of specialties accompanied by vernaccia from Pergola starting at 2pm

Piandimeleto
*Palio dei Conti Oliva (last weekend)
Historic medieval revival with costume procession & archery competition, medieval market, historical parade & more

San Costanzo
Sagra polentara (last weekend)
Polenta festival where the master polenta chefs cook polenta in antique copper cauldrons starting at 6pm - we will be there for sure!
Ongoing
Montefelcino
Mercatino del feudatario (July - August, Tuesday)
Feudal market, evening markets of antiques, curiositites, collector's items & of course- gastronomy. Renissance costumes & processsions, musical attractions & artistic exhibitions. The name of the event comes from Count Fabio Landriani della Rovere whose castle feuded with the Duke of Urbino in the second half of the 16th century.

Gabicce Mare
Escursioni guidate in barca a vela (July - August, Tuesday & Thursday)
Sail boat excursions with a guide in the San Bartolo park at 9:00am (prior booking recommended 0541.831.700)

Fano
Mercato e shopping serale (July - August, Wednesday - Friday)
Shopping & evening market in the old centre

Sant'Angelo in Vado
Estate vadese (July - August)
Summer in Sant'Angelo in Vado, exhibitions, music, theater, street performers, games, live entertainment, tastings of typical local products 9:00pm

Shopping di sera (July - August, Wednesday)
Evening shopping, a traditional summertime event with music, gastronomy & much more around 9pm!

Novafeltria
E...sate in salute (July - August, Thursday)
Summer Health, summer evening market with events, shows, exhibitions & market of healthy products & well being, food & drinks * Guided wine tastings starting at 7:00pm. (Start in the middle of July)

Urbania
Pasta fresca (June - August)
The quintessential Italian cooking holiday - pizza & pasta making! Learn to throw the dough, roll sheets of pasta by hand & fire up the outdoor wood burning oven!

Gabicce Mare
Mercantino di prodotti naturali (June - September, Tuesday & Friday)
Natural products market in Piazza Valbruna at 8:30pm

Pesaro
Pesaro dulcis in centro (July-August, Wednesday to Friday)
Evening shopping, concerts, exhibitions, entertainment for kids, creative workshops, food tastings, guided tours, cultural walks & lectures.

Mercatino serale (June - September, Tuesday & Friday)
Evening market along Via Fiume

Gradara
Medioevo a tavola (all year)
The pleasures of the table in the Middle Ages, medieval dinners in the restaurants of the old center

Giovedi al castello (June - August, Thrusday)
Thursdays at the castle, re-enactment of the closure of the gate to the village at vespers, procession in period costume, fire-eaters & more at 9:00pm

Mondolfo
Eventi estivi (June - August)
Musical events, theatre, sports, gastronomy, exhibitions, evening markets and much more along the seaside of Marotta & in the old centre of Mondolfo

LaTavolaMarche in Italy

I am FINALLY getting a grill -- Please share your favorite grilling recipes

Totally agree, grilled veggies is the way to go! Rub down in olive oil & sprinkle with salt & pepper - try these:
Asparagus (don't worry a few might fall through, just put them on sideways & rotate - at most 8 minutes or so)
Onion - slice thick - add rub above - flip after 5 minutes on each side
Portabello mushrooms - use vinegar in the rub
Another great idea:
Rosemary skewers- take long sticks of rosemary & keep the tips with the herb, stick on meats or shrimp! -Fantastic!!

Also check out my recent recipe addition grilled piadine - an italian flat bread - super good & simple!

http://www.chow.com/recipes/11978

Grill the summer away.....

LaTavolaMarche in Home Cooking

Eating your way through Le Marche - June 2008 Festivals

This begins our extended year-long series on "Eating your way through Le Marche"

Created to help you plan your trip & to promote the delicious gastronomic traditions & festivals of Le Marche check back often for our monthly installment. (If you are planning your holiday months in advance just email me for more information!)

June 2008

Apecchio
Fiera del Santissimo Crocifisso (1st Sunday)
Market along the streets of the town

Monte Grimano Terme
Sagra dello spignolo (1st weekend, Saturday afternoon, Sunday all day)
Mushroom festival (spignolo) with typical products, tastings, games, music, dancing & fun.

Sant'Ippolito
Fiera del castello (1st Sunday)
The castle market fair all day.

Cartoceto
Sagra dei vincigrassi (1st Sunday 6pm)
Vincigrassi - local lasagna festival

Borgo Pace
Festa della schiacciata (1st Sunday - all day)
Schiacciata festival - a special bread made with rosemary. Food & wine, games & religious procession.

Pesaro
Caprile Agrishow (1st weekend)
Market fair of food products, live entertainment, visit the gardens with ancient waterworks, gastronomic stands all day.

Fano
Gustosa (2nd Sunday & Saturday)
A Tribute to agriculture with a harvest festival and other events. All day fruit & vegetable market in the town center.

Cagli
Sagra della lumaca (3rd Sunday)
Snail festival

Monte Porzio
Salciccia n't canton (3rd Sunday & Saturday before starting at 3pm)
Sausage festival with live entertainment & shows with historic re-enactments & tournaments.

Barchi
Sagra della rana (last Sunday 6pm)
Frog festival - Folk & gastronomic festival based on the frog with dancing.

Maiolo
Festa del pane (last weekend)
Bread festival - local traditions linked to the history of bread & food in the old center & the ovens of the area. Take a bread baking class at La Tavola Marche & learn how to use a wood-burning outdoor oven!

Monte Grimano Terme
Sagra della lumaca (Weekend at the end of the month - check web site for updates)
Snail festival

Pesaro
Bellino dell'Enohobby- Wine & Oil International Festival (check the site for updates on the date)
National & International extra virgin olive oil competition L'Ociolo d'Oro; national wine competition Bollino dell'Enhobby; show-cases of tastes, islands of taste, tasting stands, theme dinners in Palazzo Gradari.

Serrungarina
Fiera di San Cipriano (Check web site for dates)
Feast of San Cipriano traditional fair displaying & selling a variety of goods, food & wine, live entertainment all day.

Continuing All Summer:
Sant'Angelo in Vado
Estate Vadese (June - August at 9:00pm in Town Square)
Summer in Sant'Angelo in Vado - only 10 minutes from Agriturismo Ca'Camone.
Exhibitions, music, theater, street performers, sport, games, live entertainment, tastings of typical products, local festivals & monuments open to the public.

Gabicce Mare
Mercatino di prodotti naturali (June - September on Thursdays & Sundays at 8:30pm)
Natural products market

Mondolfo
Eventi estivi (June - August)
Musical events, theatre, sport, gastronomy, exhibitions, evening markets & much more along the seaside area of Marotta & in the old center of Mondolfo

Gradara
Medioevo a tavola (All year long)
The pleasures of the table in the Middle Ages, medieval dinners in the restaurants of the old center.

Gradara
Giovedi al castello (Thursdays at 9pm June - August)
Thursdays at the castle, re-enactment of the closure of the gate to the village at vespers, procession in period costume, fire-eaters & more!

Of course there are tons more festivals than listed here - many religious & handcrafted items
visit the Official Tourism Site for Pesaro e Urbino for more information.

LaTavolaMarche in Italy

Seeking recommendations for Umbria

Check out the walled city of Citta di Castello for a wonderful stroll through town!

For a short drive from Assisi try northern Le Marche - great agriturismo's with home cooking, medieval towns & the famed truffle! You can even go on truffle hunts in the fall!

LaTavolaMarche in Italy

14 days in Italy, Need help, first timer

Have you thought about Le Marche - its just a short drive south from Venice &/or a 2 hour drive from Florence towards the Adriatic. It is wonderfully authentic & filled with great food & markets. Urbino is a fantastic hilltop town & the medieval hub of the area (home of Raphael) and Fano on the coast is great & has a huge market on the weekends.

In Rome try Augusto in Trastevere for a family run trattoria filled with locals! Inexpensive & delish!

LaTavolaMarche in Italy

Need help with Rome Restaurants

For a great family-run neighborhood spot- Augusto in Trastevere always hits the spot! I recommend if you are looking for a trattoria/osteria filled with locals & inexpensive. Arrive a little early for dinner or you will be waiting outside in line & salivating to the smells & watching everyone eat!

-----
Augusto
Piazza de' Renzi, 15,, Lazio 00153, IT

LaTavolaMarche in Italy