Sagra della porchetta e dei fagioli con le Cotiche

In the heart of Umbria, at Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, the Sagra della Porchetta e dei Fagioli con le Cotiche returns—an event celebrating the authenticity of humble Umbrian peasant cuisine. Every first weekend of August, the local Pro Loco transforms this small village into a place where the flavors of yesteryear are rediscovered, when nothing from a pig was wasted and every part found its nobility on the plate. The porchetta of Monte Santa Maria is legendary: even before the festival officially begins, admirers rush to reserve this culinary masterpiece, along with organ meats and trotters baked in the oven, infused with the rendered fat from the roasting porchetta. Alongside this undisputed queen of the table stands Fagioli con le Cotiche (Beans with Rinds), a dish that embodies the genius loci of local popular cuisine. The Pro Loco's cooks keep tradition alive by manually cleaning, one by one, the ‹codenne› (as the rinds are called in the local dialect), then cooking them according to an ancient recipe passed down through generations. Black-eyed peas, abundantly cultivated in the hills surrounding the village by local farmers, complete a perfect pairing that transforms simple ingredients into an unforgettable gastronomic experience. This festival is far more than a simple culinary event: it is a true journey through time, a celebration of the territory's historical memory and the ancient school of pork butchers from Monte Santa Maria who exported their craft and skill throughout the region. An unmissable opportunity for those wishing to experience the authentic traditions of Umbrian cuisine firsthand.