Event: Sagre Delle Ciliegie di Marostica (Marostica Cherry Festival)
Festivals (or sagre in Italian) are a fun part of rural Italian life. They are not limited to the countryside but they do tend to be highly regionalized celebrations of events, people (think saints), historic events and, very often, foods that are unique to particular areas. Some run over weekends but many extend over a week or more. I have had the chance to visit many of these sagre and thought that this one in particular would be a good way to introduce them to you.
Anyone interested in Italian cherries — and the Marostica variety in particular — should seek out the annual cherry festival (Sagre Delle Ciliegie) that takes place in the town of Marostica (VE). Located in the Veneto region about 45 miles (70Km) from Venice, Marostica sits in the foothills of the Alps (the Prealpi Venete.) The festival dates back to 1933 and celebrates the local pride in – and importance of – the local cherry to the region.
The festival normally begins on the last Sunday of May but the precise timing can vary depending upon weather conditions; activities can be found in other cities around the region over the proceeding weeks including the presentation of the GDP designated cherries in Molvena.
Like many weekend festivals (or “sagre”) in Italy, the festival spans several weekends and moves to multiple locations in the area. Sagre Delle Ciliegie begins and ends in its primary location — Marostica. But during the next several weekends, activities move to the nearby towns of Mason Vicentino and Molvena (home of Agriturismo Al Pozzetto). (I attended a cherry cooking school at Agriturismo Al Pozzetto that will be the subject of an upcoming post — so stay tuned.)
In past years, activities have included:
cherry hikes around the region
educational workshops
circuit tasting of many dishes using the Marostica cherry
cooking classes featuring the Marostica cherry
games and children’s activities
dancing & live music
food conferences
exhibition stands featuring the IGP Marostica
Activities vary from year to year, so check the festival website for the latest information and details. (www.ciliegiadimarosticaigp.it)
There is another festival in Marostica and, while unrelated to the cherry, it is perhaps even more famous. In early September of even-numbered years, a chess festival takes place in Marostica. In memory of a 15th century feud famously settled by a chess match, the festival (La Partita a Scacchi di Marostica) features a match played on a life-size board in the city’s main piazza using living pieces! (www.marosticascacchi.it)