With the arrival of November, one of the longest-running and most heartfelt traditional festivals in Valpolicella approaches, the “Festa de le Fae” (broad beans festival). In the enchanting village of San Giorgio Ingannapoltron, on the second weekend of November, this legume is celebrated, the broad bean, which was fundamental to the diet of local peasant families in the past. Since ancient times, broad beans, which are the first to emerge from the spring soil after the seed has been buried in the earth, were the symbol of immortality and guardians of the souls of the deceased. This festival has its roots in the era of ancient Rome, and was connected with the funeral rites of the Arusnati, ancient inhabitants of Valpolicella, and then with the Christians, for whom broad beans were also a symbol of immortality. The ancient pagan rite had the meaning of propitiating the shades of the deceased, thus putting oneself in contact with the afterlife, where the spirit of the dead lives forever. The beans were therefore not an offering intended for the dead, but a legume intended for the living, which being a symbol of immortality, put them in spiritual communication with the world of the deceased.

Certain traces of this celebration can be found from the 16th century until 1924, after which its presence began to become increasingly rare until it almost disappeared. In 1973, the nascent local Pro Loco (the local voluntary tourist association) took charge of rehabilitating the event, reflecting the old tradition, including the recipe and distribution to the population of the famous “minestrone de le Fae” (broad bean soup), the result of a long cooking of the beans with vegetables and olive oil. Since then, every year on the second Sunday of November after Holy Mass, the inhabitants of the hamlet of San Giorgio gather in the small square adjacent to the church, where around the “Piera (stone) de le Fae” they wait to receive their ration of minestrone. The heads of the families of the village are called, and based on the number of members of each family unit, the rations are distributed. At this point the inhabitants return to their homes to consume the rich soup received. The party continues, and all the guests and tourists present can taste the bean soup, chestnuts and sponghè, a typical local dessert, all obviously accompanied by local wines of Valpolicella and excellent mulled wine.

In the village the party lasts the whole weekend, with folkloristic performances and tastings of local products, as well as collateral events such as sculpture exhibitions, photography or painting exhibitions and concerts.

In short, if you happen to be in Valpolicella between November 8 and 10, a stop at the “Festa de le Fae” in San Giorgio is a must. But if you want to discover the magic of this ancient village during the rest of the year, don’t hesitate to join us on our tour “A taste of Valpolicella”!