We'll be in Italy in September and are hoping to enjoy an Italian sagra while we are there. My wife and I have an unusual fascination with bruschetta and were hoping to attend the Sagra della Bruschetta in Gaiole in Chianti. I was wondering if anyone has attended a sagra before and can tell me what to expect, customs, mores, and expectations in general and specifically anything about this town in particular. Any tips or advice would be appreciated. I can speak very basic Italian. Can I expect the average Italian in this area, outside of the tourist spots, to speak English?
Posted by
North Carolina
362 posts
The annual Festa dell'Uva (grape festival) in Impruneta is on September 25. There may be harvest activities going on the entire weekend. Impruneta is a very small town near Florence. You can get there by bus.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
You will find many people in Gaiole in Chianti speak English, but your basic Italian will be much appreciated. Parking can be challenging in any small town and the sagra crowd will make it worse, so arrive early or take public trans. In addition to the food focus of your particular sagra you may find a mercato of local products and/or souvenier-type goods. There will most likely be a musical program, and the schedule if events these days is usually on a website for the sagra. Have you found one?
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Laurel, I have not seen a schedule of events for that particular sagra, only a schedule of different sagre in September. I haven't really looked for one though, so I will do that.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34335 posts
Go to http://www.comune.gaiole.si.it/culturaeterritorio/eventi/sagra-della-bruschetta-monti-chianti-0 and click on the photo of the ad, then click the follow us on facebook.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
My Italian instructor would make me check to see if you know the correct Italian pronunciation of "bruschetta". You know it's "broo-SKET-tah", right? Not "broo-SHEH-tah". A "ch" or "cch" in Italian is always pronounced as a "k".
Posted by
North Carolina
362 posts
Not exactly a sagra, but the Carro Matto happens annually in Florence the last Saturday in September. A centuries-old celebration of carrying the Chianti Rufina wine harvest into Florence when gazillions of bottles are drawn by white oxen on a huge cart and paraded through the streets of Florence along with, of course, Renaissance-costumed "royalty" and "peasants", drummers, flag throwers, etc, etc.,etc. Plenty of descriptions online if you want to check it out.