Food festivals and events in Bologna e Appennino 2026
“Bologna the bountiful and its Apennine mountains offer legendary festivals where tortellini in broth is a sacred ritual.”
Tortellini and Porticoes
Upcoming Events
Sagra del tortellone e della carne alla griglia
Mortadella Bologna
The quintessential Bologna cured meat, pink and fragrant with pistachios.
Mordano Magnalonga - Camminare Gustando
Parmigiano Reggiano
The king of cheeses, aged for a minimum of 12 months, also produced in the Bolognese Apennines.
The official recipe for tortellini bolognese has been registered at the Chamber of Commerce since 1974.
Bologna has 53 km of arcades in its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021.
Discovering the territory
Products, traditions and culture that make this land unique
Prodotti del Territorio
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena
A precious condiment obtained from cooked grape must and aged in batteries of wooden barrels.
Tortellini di Bologna
Filled pasta with a shape inspired by the navel of Venus, the iconic dish of Bologna.
Piatti della Tradizione
Tradizioni e Cultura
Patrimoni UNESCO
Portici di Bologna
The medieval and Renaissance arcades of Bologna, featuring over 60 km of covered walkways.
Patrimonio CulturaleTradizioni Popolari
La Sfoglia Bolognese
The art of hand-rolled pasta with the mattarello rolling pin, passed down by Bolognese pasta-makers.
San Luca e il Portico più lungo del mondo
A procession along the 3.8 km of arcades that connect Bologna to the Sanctuary of San Luca.
Parchi e Aree Naturali
Parco Regionale Corno alle Scale
A mountainous area of the Bolognese Apennines featuring beech forests and waterfalls.
Personaggi Illustri
Pellegrino Artusi
Gastronomic writerAuthor of 'La scienza in cucina' (1891), the first cookbook of Italian cuisine.
Lucio Dalla
Singer-songwriterAn icon of Italian music, born and lived in Via D'Azeglio in Bologna.
Lo Sapevi Che…
“The University of Bologna (1088) is the oldest university in the Western world.”
“In Bologna, there is no such thing as 'pasta alla bolognese'—it's called tagliatelle al ragù.”
Domande Frequenti
1What PDO and PGI products are found in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
In Bologna and the Apennines you'll find 4 protected designation products, including: Mortadella Bologna (PGI), Parmigiano Reggiano (PDO), Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena (PDO), and Tortellini di Bologna (PAT).
2What should you eat in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
Typical dishes of Bologna and the Apennines include: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragù, Lasagne alla bolognese, Crescentine (tigelle), and Certosino di Bologna. Each dish tells the gastronomic story of this region.
3What UNESCO heritage sites are in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
In Bologna and the Apennines you'll find 1 UNESCO heritage site: the Arcades of Bologna (Cultural, 2021).
4What are the most famous food festivals in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
Among the most important festivals and events in Bologna and the Apennines: Mortadella Please (Bologna, October); Sagra della Crescentina (Zocca, August); Cioccoshow (Bologna, November).
5What natural parks are in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
Protected natural areas in Bologna and the Apennines include: Parco Regionale Corno alle Scale (Regional Park).
6Who organizes food festivals in Bologna and the Apennines?expand_more
Food festivals in Bologna and the Apennines are organized by local communities including the Confraternita del Tortellino and Pro Loco Zocca. These local associations are the keepers of the region's gastronomic traditions.