San Miniato will host the White Truffle Festival

November is the best time for visiting the cozy town of San Miniato located in the Pisa province (Tuscany region). In this autumn month here is held a traditional White Truffle Festival (Mercato del Bianco Tartufo di San Miniato).

In 2009 the Truffle Festival in San Miniato will be held on the last three Saturdays and Sundays, i.e. on 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 of November. This momentous event for all connoisseurs of fine food will be held for the thirty-ninth time. Firstly it was a usual gastronomic festival dedicated to the one product. But each year the truffle fair gains more popularity and has become a grand event, which has today the national status.

Truffles have a unique delicate taste and aroma and therefore are considered to be very valuable delicacy that makes them a profitable manufacturing product. In the vicinity of San Miniato white truffles can boast of their size and quality. Over eleven years ago in this area was found the biggest truffle in the world. Its weight was 2, 5 kilograms. The truffles are searched with the using of trained pigs and dogs. If you want to it on your own, you need to pay attention to the places with a large cluster of midges.

Truffles in Italy are almost always used raw. They are rubbed and added to sauces and also used as a seasoning for cooking delicious Italian dishes. The mushroom or meat salads with the addition of truffles are very tasty.

The Truffle Festival will be held in the historic part of San Miniato. A fair and an auction will be held during the festival. Festival’s visitors will be able to taste the truffles with Italian wine, grappa, cheese and snails. In the festival’s program is scheduled the tasting of vintage wines. Also at the fair except the truffles everyone will be able to buy a variety of gastronomic products at low prices: salami, cheeses, olive and truffle oils, liquors, wines and honey.

The region of Tuscany borders with Liguria region. If you plan to vacation in Liguria in the second half of November, visit the Festival of Truffles in San Miniato, especially if you've never tasted truffles. This holiday will not leave you indifferent and you can also diversify your vacation in Liguria.

During the fair the number of visitors in the city is much more than usual, but the number of rental accommodation decreases. Therefore, please, think in advance about renting an apartment, hotel room or a cozy cottage and choose the most suitable variant.

Foto: MatthiasKabel, по лицензии