In the Metauro valley you can read the calendar at the table: every season has its festival and its dish. Here's how a year goes by in Fermignano and the towns nearby.
Winter
- January opens with the Befana in Urbania, the big national festival of the gift-bringing old woman, just a few kilometres away.
- Around 17 January, the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the traditional blessing of the animals takes place.
- At Carnival, homes smell of castagnole and scroccafusi, the small fried sweets typical of Le Marche.
Spring
Easter brings crescia al formaggio to the table, a tall, soft cheese bread eaten at breakfast with cured meats. The following Sunday, Domenica in Albis, is the day of the Palio della Rana: the town's districts race along the main street pushing wheelbarrows with a frog on board. It's the festival the town feels most deeply.
Summer
Summer evenings are spent outdoors: village festivals, food fairs (sagre) and nights in the piazza across the valley. At da Lola it's the season of long evenings, with the bocce court next door and the playground full of children.
September and autumn
- In early September Fermignano hosts the Gran Premio del Biciclo Ottocentesco, a race on vintage penny-farthings, the bicycles with the huge front wheel.
- Autumn brings the grape harvest, chestnuts and porcini mushrooms.
- From late October into November it's white truffle season, with the National Fair in Acqualagna.
- On 11 November, Saint Martin's Day, the first bottles of new wine are opened with roast chestnuts.
Christmas
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without cappelletti in broth, folded by hand with the family in the days before, and frustingo, the dark Marche cake of dried figs, walnuts and dried fruit.
Festival dates change from year to year, so follow the Comune and Pro Loco di Fermignano for up-to-date programmes. For the busiest evenings, book your table in advance.
