Contignano: the raviolo festival

HISTORY

Contignano has a rich history of its own, like all the ancient villages that crown the Sienese hills. Its name seems to come from a man-at-arms, one Acontinius or Acontius, one of the veterans to whom the consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla distributed land in Tuscany after a victorious career in the ranks of the Roman army. This happened around 82 BC. Precise references to the existence of Contignano date to around 1028, through a parchment in which two wealthy spouses draw up the deed donating certain properties to the Abbey of San Salvatore, among which is the village.

Contignano is famous for the excellent pecorino cheese produced here. Among the popular festivals, the 'Sagra del raviolo' deserves a mention: an event particularly dear to the local people, held every year in August (the first Sunday after Ferragosto).

SAGRA del RAVIOLO

The 'Sagra del Raviolo' was born thirty years ago with the aim of promoting one of the most typical products: the output of the Contignano dairy and one of its specialities: ricotta. Set within a village festival, it was decided to hold this event to coincide with the feast of the town's patron saint: Santa Maria Assunta. Ever-growing approval and a steadily increasing public, year after year, have made this event one of the most typical 'historic' festivals held in the Sienese countryside.

The Raviolo is made by hand with very fresh produce (hen's eggs, flour from the Val d'Orcia fields, fresh ricotta from the flocks grazing nearby, the herbs typical of the Sienese crete and calanchi) and over time the village housewives have managed to keep their recipe secret (although ricotta ravioli are a dish prepared by several Italian kitchens).

This year too we didn't miss the event and duly paid tribute to the housewives who worked so hard to make the Raviolo (36th Raviolo Festival; 16-20 August 2006).

THANKS

THANKS to Gianalberto & Rosanna for inviting us and for sharing this unmissable festival with us.