Paula Stanghetta May 8, 2021One of the things I love about Italy is how much the Italians love life. No matter where you go, what time of year, someone is celebrating something. One event that caught my wandering Internet eyes a couple of weeks ago, is the title of this blog post. The Camogli Fish Festival is intriguing and now I must share this fascinating festival with you too, my fellow travellers. Enjoy!
Sagre del Pesce di Santo Fortunato
The Sagre del Pesce di Santo Fortunato (sounds so much better in Italian!) takes place in a tiny port town called Camogli, on the northwest coast of Italy in the region of Liguria. The town is located in a part of Italy that is quite famous – Cinque Terre. However, part of the charm of Camogli is that it is truly off-the-beaten path and therefore of great appeal to me. The families of this charming port town make their living from fishing and it’s a tradition with a long history. Santo Fortunato is the patron saint of fishermen and it is to him that the festival is dedicated.
How It All Began
Camogli’s Sagre del Pesce is a relatively new phenomenon. Legend has it that the local women wanted to show their gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary for protecting their men during World War II. To do so, they offered fresh fish to her and over the years, the tradition of giving fresh fish grew into a festival for the whole community to celebrate. Another story of origin says that shortly after World War II, two businessmen stayed up all night frying fish to give away to the locals and tourists in an effort to boost the local economy. I will leave it to you to choose the story you want to believe!
A 28-Ton Frying Pan
Every year on the second weekend in May, Camogli comes alive with waterfront music, processions, a marketplace for cheese, woodcrafts, pesto, jewelry, and of course, fish. A lot of fried fish – around 3 tons, give or take a few anchovies! The fish is all free, which has a tendency to attract crowds from outside the town. One of the features of the festival is the size of the pan that is used to fry the fish; it is 4metres in diameter, has a 6m handle, and is made of stainless steel weighing 28 tons! Many pans have come and gone over the years and the current one is the fifth since the festival began.
Fireworks and a Beach Bonfire
Besides fish, the festival features a brilliant fireworks display. However, the most exciting part of the weekend is when two neighbourhoods of Porto and Pineto face off in a competition to see who can build the more spectacular bonfire. During the day, residents build a large structure to which they bring old furniture and other unwanted combustibles like wood and pack it into their respective structures. Late in the evening, the structure is lit with a firewire that comes down from the town’s main church steeple. Everyone gathers expectantly to see which bonfire is the best and the local fire department is close at hand during most of the night to ensure the fire is contained.
Camogli’s Fish Festival in 2021
The festival is postponed for the second year due to the pandemic but residents have been reliving past festivals through virtual events. The hope is that there may be a chance to celebrate later in 2021 or perhaps once again in 2022.
Would you visit Camogli’s fish festival? What unusual festivals have you come across in your travels?
