Flavors of spring: 5 festivals not to be missed

The traditional Lari Cherry Festival is now a regular event for visitors and producers: days of taste and art, discovering the gastronomic and cultural excellence of the area, between the end of May and the beginning of June.
The undisputed protagonist will be the cherry, with its 14 native varieties, but there will be no shortage of artistic and cultural events. The main square will feature stands of producers, offering cherries to the public. As per tradition, a prize will be awarded, with the coveted Golden Cherry, to the producer who has managed to obtain the best fruit.

In the heart of the Era Valley, Terricciola has been celebrating its typical fruit for years now in May: the strawberry.
Food stands, musical concerts, tastings, exhibitions and shows for an event that both young and old enjoy.
It will be possible to taste traditional cuisine, sample wines and, of course, have a great strawberry blowout.
The village streets will host traveling shows and an antiques and crafts market.

At the end of March, Volterra - the medieval city of alabaster - holds the Marzuolo Truffle Exhibition-Market. This is a much-awaited appointment full of events: tastings of all the excellent products of the territory, with special attention to the protagonist of the festival, the truffle.
In addition, a rich calendar of events and initiatives that will embrace the city inside and outside the walls to celebrate the rich historical and architectural heritage and the many unique features of the area.

On Easter Monday, at the Hermitage of Santa Caterina in Rio nell'Elba, the sweet of lovers typical of the village, the sportella, is celebrated.
Tradition has it that on Palm Sunday, the beau would have his beloved brought a basket of flowers with ceremito (a very old sweet): if the girl accepted the gift and thus the proposal of love, she would reciprocate on Easter Day by having a blessed sportella delivered to him.
On Easter Monday, the two lovers would reach the Hermitage of Santa Caterina to spend some time together after church services.

In the village of Chiusure, a few kilometers from Asciano, the Artichoke Festival returns at the end of April.
In the extraordinary village, nestled in the Crete Senesi, mountain bike tours, hikes, walks and family workshops are scheduled. Of course, there will be a food stand and the not-to-be-missed Artichoke Dinner.