Articolo disponibile anche in: Italian

Soft, fragrant and very tasty, the Tuscan “frittelle” (fritters) are a symbol of an ancient countryside tradition, that has its roots in Renaissance cuisine.

Few people know the secrets that make the recipe for the Montefioralle fritters truly unique.

But there’s a time of year, the weekend around the celebration dedicated to San Giuseppe – father or ‘babbo’s day, as they say in Tuscany – where the volunteers of Montefioralle love sharing their knowledge with the whole community.

These passionate cooks are the guardians of an important local gastronomic heritage, and this special occasion is the Fritter Festival in Montefioralle Castle.

This year the 50th edition of the festival takes place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March.

50 years of culinary expertise and delicious ingredients: rice, milk, flour, sugar, vanilla and orange peel; many people cooking together in the name of a long-standing tradition. Dozens of local people prepare the fritters by hand and set up the colossal frying pan, two meters in diameter, that can contain up to 250 kg of olive oil.

Celebrating the Festival’s 50th anniversary are the Montefioralle Tourism Committee and its historic partner, the Municipality of Greve in Chianti, which promotes and enhances this typical product with a rich program of events.

A hundred people live in the hamlet of Montefioralle, a prestigious place of historical and architectural value. It’s famous for the beauty of its stone houses, its narrow streets, the squares, the religious complex of the Santo Stefano Church with its impressive tower and the enchanting landscapes that surround it.

Every corner of Montefioralle oozes history, and some ancient families have been here for centuries, and today the last descendants of the Vespucci are still living here.

The fritter of Montefioralle Castle is star of the show on Saturday 16th March – from 2pm to 7pm – and Sunday 17th – from 10am to 7pm, where various events will take place in the Medieval hamlet.

The program includes an art exhibition, rural workshops and some games of the past with the Vera Terra association, plus aperitifs with DJ set and amusing musical sketches signed “Duova”, and a photo exhibition that shows the festival over the years.

To make it easier to access the hamlet, the Municipality offers a free shuttle bus leaving from Piazza Trento every thirty minutes with a stop at the chapel of Sant’Anna.

During the event a food stand with sandwiches and croutons is in operation. The sale of fritters is accompanied by wine and typical Vinsanto sweet wine.

Free admission. For more info, call: 055 8545271.

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