St George's mushroom festival and Shepherd's days

St. George's mushroom

Original name: Sagra del Prugnolo e giornate del pastore

Place: Pieve Santo Stefano, in the province of Arezzo, upper Tiber river valley area.

First year of the festival: 2003

Period: first weekend of May

2026 dates: from Friday May 15 to Sunday May 17

Opening hours: Saturday, from 9:00 am until dinner; Sunday, from 8:30 am until dinner

Local Specialties:

• Appetizers: Ravioli di patate fritti, fried potato ravioli;
• First courses - Tagliolino al priugnolo, tagliolino pasta with St George's mushroom;
• Main course - Polenta ai prugnoli, polenta with St George's mushroom.

Less prestigious than the famous Porcini mushroom (fungo porcino or simply porcino in Italian language), the St George's mushroom has nevertheless many enthusiasts; several festivals are dedicated to this mushroom, in Italian language prugnolo.

As in Pieve Santo Stefano, in the middle of the high Tiber river valley, where the arrival of spring brings on a great feast, with a local agricultural producers' market (open from around 9 am), arts and culture exhibitions, sport activities, ballroom dance.

From 6:30 pm on Friday and from 12:00 pm on Saturday and on Sunday, at the food stands it will be possible to taste some great recipes with prugnolo mushroom: the unmissable polenta with prugnolo mushroom – don't miss it! – and fried potato ravioli, an always welcome first course, popular in many Tuscan areas.