Food festivals in Modena worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Modena worth planning a trip around, by month.
Modena's philosophy festival fills the piazzas with free lectures, and its cucina filosofica programme has restaurants in Modena, Carpi and Sassuolo serving eight themed menus of hand-made pasta and local dishes.
Focus: Modenese cucina filosofica menus
Tip: All lectures are free; book the philosophical menus directly with the restaurants listed on the cucina filosofica page, as tables go quickly.
The two balsamic vinegar consortia open more than 40 acetaie across Modena province for a weekend of loft visits, tastings and side events, with the main open day on Sunday and activities in the historic centre.
Focus: Aceto Balsamico di Modena and Tradizionale DOP
Tip: Check the participating acetaie list on the event site and plan two or three near each other; they are spread across the whole province.
Modena's chocolate festival, now in its eighth edition: artisan chocolatiers and pastry chefs fill the historic centre with stalls, a chocolate factory demonstration space, show cooking and tastings.
Focus: Artisan chocolate
Tip: Entry is free; go on the Thursday or Friday afternoon, the weekend crowds around Piazza Grande make the tasting queues long.
Piazza Grande becomes a three-day showcase of Modena province's small producers: Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic, cured meats, pastry and wines to taste and buy, with stands cooking lunches and dinners until midnight.
Focus: Modenese produce and small producers
Tip: Free entry from noon; the Chamber of Commerce stand runs guided Tradizione e Sapori tastings, ask for the day's slots when you arrive.
Castelfranco Emilia, 13 km from Modena and the town that claims the tortellino's birth, runs its 45th sagra: hand-rolled tortellini in capon broth from stands in Piazza Bergamini nightly, plus a historic parade.
Focus: Tortellini in capon broth
Tip: Stands open at 7:30pm and for Sunday lunch, closed Monday. Castelfranco is one regional-train stop from Modena; go on the final Sunday for the parade.
Castelnuovo Rangone, 12 km south of Modena, cooks the world's largest zampone: a three-metre, 400-kilo pig's trotter sausage simmered for days in a steel vat and sliced for the crowd in the town centre.
Focus: Zampone and cotechino
Tip: Free; the cooking takes three days and the giant zampone is sliced on the Sunday. Check the programme link on the Terre di Castelli page for times.
Discover Modena's culinary gems and sightseeing on a guided walking tour, featuring local specialties like balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and artisanal charcuterie
Discover Emilia-Romagna's essence in a day: tour Parmigiano Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar producers, indulge in local delights, have food tastings, and visit the Ferrari Museum.
Discover the flavors of Modena on a guided food tour. Sample iconic cakes, pastries, and balsamic vinegar, and enjoy a classic Modenese pasta dish at a historic restaurant.