Years ago, when I was working as an au pair in Italy for a summer during university, I temporarily became a member of an Italian family. As such, I escorted them on various weekends by the sea and in the Alps and on all sorts of family days out. Many of the outings involved heading to a neighbouring town or village to attend one of Italy’s endless sagre (festivals) to sample a local speciality. These events usually centred around a singular dish that was impossibly delicious and incredibly cheap, enjoyed among other attendees at long tables with plastic table cloths and bench seats. Music, rides for kids, and other entertainments were often on offer as well but it was mostly about the food and the food always delivered.
So, if you are planning a vacation in Italy, I always recommend finding out what the local food festivals are and attending if one is occurring during your trip. Not only will this offer an incredibly authentic Italian experience but it is a great way to eat well and cheaply – what’s not to love? This August, if you have found a villa in Tuscany or a holiday rental in Lucca, in particular, I suggest making your way to the town of Barga to enjoy a somewhat unlikely Tuscan food festival – their annual Fish and Chips Festival!
Dating back to the early 1980s, the Sagra del Pesce e Patate takes place on the home ground of the local football team, AS Barga, at the Johnny Moscardini stadium, named for the only Scottish-born male footballer who has played for Italy. Raising funds for both the club and various charities, the event underscores the link between Barga and Scotland in a rather tasty way.
Due to the harsh economic climate in Italy from the end of the 19th century, many emigrants began leaving Barga and the surrounding area at the beginning of the 20th century and between the two world wars and heading to Scotland. In Scotland, new industrial centres had hungry dockers looking to be fed and a large percentage of Barga’s population left to pursue these business opportunities. Many began opening and working in ice-cream shops and fish and chips shops as well as working in the dockyards themselves. Upon retiring and after decades in Scotland, some of these same people moved back home to Barga, further intensifying the intergenerational ties between the two places.
Because of this, the very special connection between the town of Barga and Scotland persists and the town wears a badge of honour as the most Scottish town in Italy. The festival celebrates this ongoing heritage with a classic Scottish dish, the humble but delicious fish supper, and sees Scottish-Italians return home for the event and reconnect with their local relatives. The festival has also become well-known in Italy and attracts visitors from all over Tuscany and beyond. While pasta and other dishes such as sausages and chips are also served, fish and chips is undoubtedly the star of the show and the most popular choice by far.
This year’s edition of the event is the 42nd and will take place from the 1st of August 2024 until the 16th of August 2024. So, if you are thinking about a vacation rental in Tuscany this August and you are after something a little bit different then why not attend this unique Tuscan food festival for the fish and chips, the excitable atmosphere, and the fascinating history and tradition? Browse our last-minute vacation rentals in Italy and make your 2024 holiday memorable with a very special foodie adventure in Tuscany!