Take a step beyond tourism and get a real welcome at a fantastic festival in Romagna

Music dancing, food and wine – out of the tourism box

In Romagna, in autumn and winter, for time immemorial, the hill and mountain villages, the towns of the plains and valleys, the colourful ports and the glorious cities of art – all become alive with festivities.

Music, dancing and lights, joy and relaxation and fun – but above all the harvest of great food and wine are all celebrated with enthusiasm. And the backgrounds to the celebrations could be no more atmospheric and conducive to gaiety.

Local communities flock to the piazzas in medieval, castellated hilltop villages, travel en masse to the old streets of market towns and gather in their best attire to celebrate in beautiful elegant cities.

And there are no people that can celebrate any better than the Romagnoli. Deeply proud of their food and wine, their traditions and their history and with their great enthusiasm for life – this is when they let their hair down and have massive parties to remember.

An upcoming edition of Best of Romagna (earlier editions can be downloaded free at http://www.BestofRomagna.com) points  to the major autumn festivals which take place in this lovely region including the International White Truffle Festival in delightful Sant’ Agata Feltria; the wondrous event when the Fossa Cheese is taken from its pits in Talamella; the Sweet Chestnut Festival in Montefiore Conca; the Truffle Festival in Mondaino; the Honey Festival in Montebello; the Fair of St Cross in Verucchio; the meeting of Ancient Fruits in Pennabilli; and wine harvest festivals almost everywhere. What an array of festivals – and this is just a selection!

But there are three Festas that are really worth making a special journey to discover:

For nearly the last millennium, for one weekend in September, the magnificent Feast of Saint Michael has taken over two beautiful and important Romagnolo cities, which then heave with great local food and wine, music and dance, friendly celebrating crowds, delicious festival specialities and festival events.

And, in October, the ancient Feast of St Martin (known locally as the Festival of Cuckolds) takes over all of Santarcangelo’s historic centre – it is simply enormous. Food and wine and other delicacies from all over Italy compete with wondrous local produce. Events and performances, cooking competitions, wine and food tastings are enjoyed by everyone. This is a festival that needs to be seen to be believed.

And the biggest of them all – from the beginning of December to Epiphany – traditional Christmas is celebrated all over Romagna as it always has been – and not just Christmas lights and Christmas shop displays!

Communities everywhere spend months planning, creating and displaying their Nativity Scenes in local specialities – in salt, in sand, in ice, animated, mechanical  and many other forms – all simply astonishing. Great Christmas markets – even Christmas Villages are set up, Christmas music, Christmas lights and Christmas services abound. In Romagna, traditional Christmas is celebrated with style and verve. A visit to Christmas in Romagna is really an experience to remember.

Best of Romagna has created opportunities to experience what they conclude are the Best of Romagna festivals – Saint Michael, Saint Martin and Christmas feasts – in the certain knowledge that clients will enjoy them..

"Particularly in Romagna, because, if you are fed up with unfulfilling ‘Tourist experiences’, here you will taste something powerfully, gloriously, refreshingly natural."

You’ll not find chain hotels or eateries, the food you eat and the wine or beer you drink will usually be local and seasonal – and delicious. The people you meet will be naturally hospitable and informed – they’ll be proud to advise you where and what to eat and drink and where and what to see.

And more importantly, in Romagna, you will not be just another tourist. You will be a welcome guest and the right sort of guests with the right sort of aspirations can change things for the better for all these the local economies – dramatically.

A visit to Romagna would not only be a great experience for you, your family and your friends but also an opportunity to open the door to a healthy and natural holiday – in a world beyond tourism.

You may think that this kind of experience would be expensive. Happily it is not – just compare prices and you will see that Romagna represents not only real experience, but real value too.

And naturally we would love to help you arrange group visits of every sort to Romagna – weddings, birthdays, meetings, incentive tours – your guests, your friends, your family will be entranced!

Find out more?

Start by visiting and ‘liking’ https://www.facebook.com/Bestofromagna

Download previous editions of Best of Romagna at http://www.BestofRomagna.com

And get a free copy of the next edition due out shortly by subscribing free. 

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle

Interested in moving to a world beyond commodity tourism? SEE: A world beyond tourism