Sagra dei pescatori (Fishermen Festival)

The Sagra dei Pescatori in Villafranca Piemonte is a historic patronal festival celebrating the local community's deep bond with the Po River. The event has its roots in the town's past, when freshwater fishing and the work of fishermen and boatmen were vital to everyday life and the local economy. The culinary offerings are hosted inside the RistoPalatenda, featuring lunches and dinners spotlighting fish: choices range from mixed fried seafood to traditional freshwater fish dishes typical of the banks of the Po. Enriching the festivities are live music, shows, commercial and livestock fairs, street markets, exhibitions, and rallies of vintage motorcycles and tractors. Among the most evocative highlights is the musical fireworks show over the Po, bringing the celebrations right back along the riverbed and reinforcing the historic memory and identity of the Villafranca territory.