Six Decades of Charcoal in Cortona: La Sagra della Bistecca
Every year, in the days around Ferragosto, Cortona fills with the scent of charcoal: it's La Sagra della Bistecca, one of Tuscany's most beloved and long-standing food festivals, set against the historic backdrop of the Giardini del Parterre.
The Event
Period: five consecutive days, usually between August 10th and 15th
Food stall hours: every evening from 6:00 PM to midnight
Location: Giardini del Parterre, Cortona (AR)
Organized by: Cortona Camucia Calcio
The History of the Festival: A Tradition Born in 1959
The roots of the festival go back to 1959, when it was conceived by Cortona's then-mayor, Morelli, together with Spartaco Mennini and Ivan Accordi, owner of the historic Tonino restaurant, with the goal of celebrating a product that embodies the local territory: Chianina beef, taken from the cattle breed native to the Valdichiana. Since then, the festival has been held every summer without interruption, now reaching over sixty editions and becoming a fixture of the Valdichiana's summer calendar, drawing thousands of visitors from across Italy and abroad every year.
Today, the event is still organized by A.S.D. Cortona Camucia Calcio, under the patronage of the Municipality of Cortona: proceeds from the event support the club's youth and first-team football activities, tying the food festival to the sporting life of the town.
Italy's Biggest Grill
At the heart of the festival is its grill: over 14 meters long, the largest working grill in the country. Over glowing embers of resinous wood, grillmasters cook hundreds of Chianina steaks every evening, ranging in weight from 700 grams to over a kilo, totaling nearly 4,500 steaks per edition. The cooking rigorously follows old Tuscan tradition: chargrilled, rare, seasoned only with coarse salt.
A Typical Evening
Every evening, from 6:00 PM to midnight, the Giardini del Parterre turn into a large open-air restaurant: outdoor tables, a bar area, and live music or DJ sets accompany dinner into the late night. The evening program changes day by day, alternating themed nights, karaoke, music-filled aperitifs, and dance parties, in a convivial atmosphere that's as much a part of the experience as the steak itself.
The Festival Menu
The festival's fixed menu includes a Chianina steak, a side dish, a liter of red wine and one of water, bread and cover charge; a dedicated kids' menu is also available, with a hamburger, fries, and a drink. Traditional sides include beans and tomatoes, while cantucci biscuits round off the meal, all paired with wines from Chianti and the Cortona area.
Why the Festival Matters to Cortona
La Sagra della Bistecca is more than a food festival: it's a defining event for the Cortona community, carried forward for over sixty years by the same spirit of grassroots togetherness that gave rise to it. It's among the oldest and most recognized food festivals in Tuscany, and stands as one of the rare cases where a village celebration has grown, edition after edition, into an event of national appeal.
Where to Stay for La Sagra della Bistecca
Villa Santa Margherita is just a few minutes' walk from the Giardini del Parterre, the ideal base for enjoying the festival's evenings without worrying about parking, and returning to your room in complete comfort. Discover our rooms and the offers available for the festival period.