Sagra dl'Articiòch
A weekend for the local artichoke — the Carciofo Astigiano della Valtiglione e del Sorì, a Slow Food Presidio — with farmers' stalls, themed menus and music in Costigliole's old centre.
Why it's special
This is a proper, small sagra built around one nearly-lost vegetable: an heirloom artichoke that Slow Food stepped in to save. Where else do you get flag-throwers and a DJ set thrown at an artichoke?
Programme · 2026
Second edition. Two days for the Carciofo Astigiano della Valtiglione e del Sorì (a Slow Food Presidio): farmers' markets, themed menus, live music, flag-throwers, band performances and DJ sets in the historic centre.
- Look for the Presidio artichoke on the themed menus and at the growers' stalls — that's the whole point of coming.
- It's in Costigliole's historic centre.
- Info via the Pro Loco di Costigliole d'Asti (tel.
- 0141 962201).
The Astigiano isn't the first place you'd expect to grow artichokes, which is roughly why this one nearly disappeared — the Carciofo della Valtiglione e del Sorì, an heirloom variety that Slow Food eventually made a Presidio to keep it in the ground. Now Costigliole d'Asti throws it a weekend.
It's a small sagra and all the better for it: growers' stalls with the actual artichoke, themed menus in the historic centre, and — because this is Piedmont — flag-throwers, a band and a DJ set folded into a vegetable festival. Only its second edition, so it still has that trying-hard, run-by-the-village feel.
Look for the Presidio artichoke on the menus; that's what you came for. Dates above.