Across the Municipality of Montecchio the calendar is lively year-round, but three highlights tell the territory’s soul: the devotion that unites, the sweetness of tradition, and the autumn scent of chestnut woods. Save the dates—perfect occasions to discover Montecchio, Tenaglie and Melezzole in person, between squares, music and local food.
On 20 May Montecchio celebrates its Patron Saint Bernardino of Siena. Streets fill with banners, the radiant IHS sun reappears on stone lintels, and a procession crosses the historic centre to the parish church.
The day alternates liturgy, town band, small markets and shared moments; it’s the ideal time to experience the village at its most authentic, with guided visits, special openings and tastings in the square. An ancient rite renewing the bond between history, faith and landscape.
In August—alongside the Feast of Saint Anthony Abbot—the medieval village of Montecchio smells of pastry: it’s Bigné time. Local bakers prepare bomboloni, ring-doughnuts and trays of cream-filled bignès (custard, chocolate, hazelnut, gianduia, lemon), displayed at stalls in the main square.
An open-air tavern serves traditional dishes, fresh pasta, grilled specialties, local wines and—as dessert—bignès and artisan gelato. Live music and entertainment every evening create a warm, summery atmosphere.
In October the magic returns for two weekends: roasting chestnuts, themed menus, shows, markets, artisans at work and roaming music: the Melezzole Chestnut Fair.
Melezzole’s prized marrone—among Umbria’s most appreciated—stars in tastings and traditional recipes; medieval lanes become a flavour trail with stalls, exhibits and live demos (woodworking, basketry, leather).
Visit Montecchio’s calendar grows with the seasons: hikes and bike outings on Amerini trails, new-oil and local-wine tastings, theatre and readings at the library, craft markets, hamlet fêtes and activities for children.
Below you’ll find the next dates:
Umbro-Etruscan frontier land, land of contested castles, land of a landscape shaped by silent hamlets and rolling hills of olive, oak and chestnut trees.
Fondo Europeo Agricolo per lo Sviluppo Rurale: L’Europa investe nelle zone rurali
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas