Truffles are an Italian autumn culinary item and are celebrated with truffle fairs and festivals in central and northern Italy. Going to a truffle fair is a must for foodies visiting Italy.
Truffles are mainly found in the Piedmont, Molise, Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia Romagna and Marche regions. During October and November, there are many white truffle fairs in these regions, and fall dishes made with the white truffle, tartufo bianco , abound in this part of Italy. What could be more romantic than feasting on a meal made with the sensual truffle?
A truffle fair is worth going to, even if you don’t want to buy truffles. The aroma of fresh truffles fills the air, and there are locally made truffle dishes to try (usually for much less than what you would pay in a restaurant). There are also entertainment stands and concessions, selling local foods like cheese, salami, honey, and wine, at these events.
Autumn white truffle fairs
Piedmont
- Alba White Truffle Fair and Market: One of the best in Italy, this fair and market takes place on weekends from early October to mid-November. Besides the truffle market and the fair, there is a lot of entertainment. Events begin with a night of concerts and food stalls and end with the world truffle auction and a white truffle walk for tourists. There is even a donkey race.
- Moncalvo , in the Monferrato, Piedmont area, also has a white truffle fair during the last two weekends of October.
Tuscany
- San Miniato Truffle Fair, La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco: Held in the medieval town of San Miniato, on the second, third and fourth weekends of November, this fair is a great way to taste fresh truffles. A large percentage of Italy’s white truffles are produced in this territory, and November is the heart of the truffle harvesting season. There are food and craft and entertainment stalls and restaurants with reasonably priced truffle menus. If you haven’t had truffles, this is a great place to get an introduction.
- San Giovanni d’Asso , near Siena, has a good truffle festival on the second and third weekends in November and a truffle museum open on weekends.
- Volterra holds its white truffle fair in late October and early November.
The market
- Acqualagna , the city that calls itself the “truffle capital,” holds a white truffle fair on weekends from late October to mid-November.
- Sant’Angelo in Vado, near Urbania, has a truffle fair on weekends for several weeks in October.
Umbria
- Pietralunga celebrates its Mostra Mercato del Tartufo , Truffle Fair, in mid-October.
- Citta di Castello celebrates the Truffle and Forest Products Fair in November.
Emilia Romagna
- Bobbio holds a truffle and mushroom fair the first weekend of Sunday in October.
- Savigno , in the hills southwest of Bologna, celebrates Savigno Sagra del Tartufo on the first 3 Sundays in November.
- Sasso Marconi , in the province of Bologna, celebrates a truffle sagra on the first weekend of November.
- Calestano , in a beautiful setting in the mountains south of Parma, holds a Black Truffle Fair every Sunday from mid-October to mid-November.
Molise
- San Pietro Avellana holds a truffle market on the first weekend in November and a black truffle fair on the second Sunday in August. The town is near the northwestern border of Molise, about 35 kilometers west of Agnone. Although the Molise region is often overlooked as a truffle destination, a large percentage of Italy’s truffles actually come from this region.
Truffle Hunting y Truffle Excursions
Do you want to try truffle hunting yourself? Select Italy offers these three truffle hunting excursions:
- Wine and Truffles Tour – A day tour in Piedmont including truffle hunting, free time in Alba for lunch, and wine tasting at a Barbaresco producer. Includes transportation from Langhe hotels.
- Truffle Hunting in Le Marche: Truffle hunting in the countryside near Ascoli Piceno, an area that has truffles almost all year round. Also includes a truffle lunch. Includes round-trip transportation from Ascoli Piceno.
- San Miniato and Truffles in Tuscany: Truffle hunting near the Tuscan town of San Miniato, followed by lunch and wine tasting at a local winery. Pick up and drop off at hotels in Florence.
Several hotels also offer truffle hunting experiences at an additional cost. In the hills above Forli ‘in Emilia Romagna, guests of Al Vecchio Convento can sign up for a truffle hunt as well as other activities. In Tuscany, Castelfalfi Resort offers truffle hunting.
