Sagra polentara

The Polenta Festival of San Costanzo is an event with deep roots, originating from eighteenth-century traditions in the province of Pesaro. Considered the oldest festival in the Marche region, this gastronomic celebration stems from a fascinating practice: the nobility of Pesaro and Fano would gather in San Costanzo to do penance for their carnival excesses by consuming humble, unseasoned polenta at long communal tables. This tradition was interrupted but was revived at the beginning of the twentieth century by Alessio Morini, a local cart driver, who transformed it into the event that today attracts thousands of visitors.

Today, beneath the Malatesta walls and the majestic bell tower of San Costanzo, the Sagra polentara remains an unmissable appointment for lovers of traditional Marche cuisine. Each edition prepares approximately 20,000 portions of polenta cooked in traditional copper pots fueled by wood fires, following a secret recipe jealously guarded and passed down through generations. The polenta is offered in delicious variations: filled with mortadella, cod, chestnut flour, and herring, providing an authentic and genuine culinary experience.

But the festival is more than just polenta: the event is enriched with a variety of local dishes such as tripe and beans, tagliolini with fava flour, grilled corn, and traditional sweets. The program is completed with performances, concerts, street artists, and sporting activities, making this event a complete celebration of Marche traditions where food, culture, and entertainment come together.