ROME – Niscemi, with its Purple Artichoke Festival, is among the organizations honored today by the UNPLI. The Pro Loco d'Italia (Unione Pro Loco d'Italia) met today in the Senate's Sala Koch to award 44 new "Sagra di Qualità" (Quality Festival) recognitions and 21 new "Evento di Qualità" (Quality Event) recognitions, as well as three special mentions.
This is how UNPLI renews its commitment to promoting Italy's traditions, typical products, and tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The award ceremony began yesterday, Sunday, March 15, at the Ergife Hotel in Rome with an event hosted by Matilde Brandi and Beppe Convertini, open to all volunteers involved.
Able to tell the story of places, preserve traditions, promote typical products and strengthen the bond between community, culture and local development, festivals have always been among the priorities of UNPLI, which has also obtained ISO 9001 certification for its event organization process.
From 2018 to 2025, the initiative has already resulted in a total of 194 "Sagra di Qualità" awards, 36 "Evento di Qualità" awards, and related special mentions, confirming the ongoing growth of a project that aims to highlight events truly capable of promoting local areas and defending their authenticity. These festivals and events have also been highlighted in the Guide to Quality Festivals, a useful tool for promoting the region and highlighting local products.
LA SPINA: "QUALITY FAIRS AND EVENTS ARE THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOUL OF OUR REGIONS"
Quality Festivals and Events represent the most authentic soul of our regions: they preserve memories, traditions, local products, and a sense of community. Every year, thanks to the tireless work of the many volunteers involved, Pro Loco organizes over 110 events, 20 of which are festivals.
With the Sagra di Qualità and Evento di Qualità labels, UNPLI aims to recognize the extraordinary work of Italian Pro Loco organizations and offer citizens and visitors a clear reference for recognizing events that are born from a genuine story, a vibrant community, and a strong connection to the local area,” said Antonino La Spina, president of UNPLI, who added: “This process confirms UNPLI’s commitment to improving the efficiency and safety of its events, with a view to constantly improving quality.”
FAIRS IN ITALY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VALUE OF €2,1 BILLION
In Italy, festivals generate approximately €700 million in spending and €2,1 billion in economic and social value, supporting 10.500 jobs. They attract approximately 48 million visitors and, above all, support the local economy, given that a large portion of the goods and services used come from the local area.
Events represent one of the most authentic expressions of the cultural and social identity of Italian regions. Initiatives that protect communities' intangible heritage and strengthen their sense of belonging. This is the case in Niscemi, the municipality severely affected by severe weather and landslides: "This is a double recognition for the work done over these 44 years of the artichoke festival, but above all, it is a symbol of a new beginning because we have decided to do it again. It will be a moment of rebirth for our community after what happened to us," said Mayor Massimiliano Conti, who was present in the Senate today.
THE PRO LOCO NUMBERS
According to data from the latest Censis report, in 2023, 97,9% of Pro Loco organizations organized events, offering over 60% of Italians the opportunity to participate in cultural and tourism initiatives, while 43,5% also participated in these events during their vacations. Pro Loco organizations are widespread throughout the country: 75,1% of the Italian population lives in municipalities that host at least one of these associations, with a particularly significant presence in small towns (57,3% in municipalities with fewer than 2.000 inhabitants and 69,8% between 2.000 and 10.000 inhabitants).
"Rewarding quality festivals means rewarding a vast world of volunteerism, more than 6.400 associations, hundreds of thousands of volunteers who work unpaid in our communities. They are our ambassadors for the region, our communities, our villages, and our cities. Today," said Senator Antonio De Poli, "we are rewarding all those festivals, all those events that have demonstrated quality and attention. So not just events, but also important and fundamental training programs in the world we live in. But today we are also sending out a great message to the world, which is that of peace."
HERE ARE THE QUALITY FAIRS AWARDED FOR 2025 – The 2025 Abruzzo Quality Festivals awarded are the one run by the Pro Loco of Villa San Nicola, in the province of Chieti, and the 'Sagra delle Pappardelle al Sugo di Ducka' (Pappardelle with Duck Sauce) run by the Pro Loco of Montegualtieri, in the province of Teramo.
In Campania, the 'Struppolo Festival' of the Pro Loco of San Salvatore Telesino, in the province of Benevento, the 'Gnocchi Festival' of the Pro Loco of Rocca d'Evandro, in the province of Caserta, the 'Pallottole Festival' of the Pro Loco of Real Sito – San Leucio, in the province of Caserta, the 'Walnut and Asprinio Wine Festival' of the Pro Loco of San Marcellino APS, in the province of Caserta, the 'Hymn to Novello' of the Pro Loco Insieme per Mignano, in the province of Caserta, the 'Gnocchi Festival of Cimitile' of the Pro Loco of Cimitile, in the province of Naples and the 'Sentieri del Gusto' of the Pro Loco of Pimonte, in the province of Naples, stand out.
In Emilia-Romagna, the awards go to "A zzùen al màial… in Piàza!" (A zzùen al màial… in Piàza!), run by the Pro Loco of Tresigallo APS in the province of Ferrara; to the "Festa del Salame" (Salame Festival) in Sarmato in the province of Piacenza; to the "Fera dal Busslanein" (Feast of the Busslane) run by the Pro Loco Amis ad San Niculo in the province of Piacenza; to the "Sagra dello Scallogno Piacentino" (Piacenza Shallot Festival) run by the Pro Loco of Castelvetro Piacentino in the province of Piacenza; to the "Rassegna del Nero Truffle di Pecorara" (Black Truffle Festival) run by the Pro Loco of Pecorara in the province of Piacenza; to the "Festa de' Brazadèl da la cros e vino novello" (Festival of Brazadel from the Cros and New Wine) run by the Pro Loco of Castel Bolognese in the province of Ravenna; and to the "Festa dell'Uva" (Grape Festival) run by the Pro Loco of Castellarano in the province of Reggio Emilia.
In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the "Mushroom and Environment Festival" organized by the Pro Loco Budoia in the province of Pordenone and "Gemona, cheese... and surroundings" organized by the Pro Loco Glemona in the province of Udine stand out. In Lazio, the "Fish Festival" organized by the Pro Loco Anguillara in the province of Rome received awards.
In Lombardy, the label has been awarded to the "Sagra del Pursèl" of the Pro Loco of Fiesse, in the province of Brescia, to the "Sagra delle Migole" of the Pro Loco of Malonnese, in the province of Brescia, and to the "Festa dei Crotti" of the Pro Loco of Albavilla, in the province of Como. In the Marche region, the "Leguminaria" label has been awarded to the Pro Loco of Appignano, in the province of Macerata.
In Piedmont, the 'Anlòt id San Bastiaun' festival of the Pro Loco Pozzolese, in the province of Alessandria, the 'Sagra delle Tagliatelle' festival of the Pro Loco of Cremolino, in the province of Alessandria, the 'Sagra del Polentone di Bubbio' festival, in the province of Asti, the 'Sagra dell'Asparago di Santena' festival, of the Pro Loco of Santena Aps, in the province of Turin, the 'Sagra Nazionale della Tripe di Moncalieri' festival, of the Pro Loco of Moncalieri, in the province of Turin and the 'Sagra del Fungo' festival of the Pro Loco Trontano, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, were awarded. In Puglia, the award-winning 'Cardoncello on the Road' festival organized by the Pro Loco Ruvo di Puglia, in the province of Bari, is held. In Sardinia, the 'Sagra del Tonno' festival organized by the Pro Loco Portoscuso, in the province of Carbonia-Iglesias, and 'Ollastra in Mirto' festival organized by the Pro Loco Ollastra, in the province of Oristano, are featured.
In Sicily, the 'Niscemi Purple Artichoke Festival', run by the Pro Loco of Niscemi, in the province of Caltanissetta, the 'Bronte Pistachio Festival', run by the Pro Loco of Bronte, in the province of Catania, the 'Nebrodi Ricotta and Provola Festival' run by the Pro Loco of Maniace, the 'Prickly Pear Festival' run by the Pro Loco of San Cono, the 'Etna Prickly Pear Festival DOP' run by the Pro Loco of Belpasso, in the province of Catania, and the 'Francofonte Blood Orange Festival' run by the Pro Loco of Idria Francofonte, in the province of Syracuse, have been recognized.
In Veneto, the picture is completed by the 'Vallonto Wine Exhibition', organized by the Pro Loco of Vallonto di Fontanelle APS, in the province of Treviso; the 'Giant Skewer', organized by the Pro Loco of Pieve di Soligo, in the province of Treviso; the 'Pumpkin Festival' organized by the Pro Loco of Sernaglia della Battaglia, in the province of Treviso; the 'De.Co. Pea Festival' organized by the Pro Loco of Scorzè, in the province of Verona; the 'Maresina Festival' organized by the Pro Loco of Provaldagno APS, in the province of Vicenza; and the 'Sagra dei Santi Fermo e Rustico' organized by the Pro Loco Bolzano Vicentino APS, in the province of Vicenza.
QUALITY EVENTS AWARDED BY UNPLI
Among the Quality Events awarded by UNPLI in 2025 in Abruzzo, the "Flavors and Knowledge of Velino" event by the Pro Loco Rosciolo, in the province of L'Aquila, was recognized. In Basilicata, the "Premio La Perla" event by the Pro Loco Maratea La Perla APS, in the province of Potenza, received the label. In Campania, the "Tra i Vicoli di Cautano" event by the Pro Loco Cepino Prata, the "Borgo Vagare – Festival of Ancient Flavors and Local Specialties" event by the Pro Loco San Lupo, in the province of Benevento, and the "Casavecchia and Pallagrello Wine Festival" event by the Pro Loco Pontelatone, in the province of Caserta, received the award. In Emilia-Romagna, the "Calici Santarcangelo" event by the Pro Loco of Santarcangelo di Romagna, in the province of Rimini, received the award. In Lazio, the "Le Tentavecchie" event by the Pro Loco Gradoli, in the province of Viterbo, received the award.
In Lombardy, the "Transhumance Festival" by the Pro Loco Borno Association, the "Citrus Gardens" by the Pro Loco Gargnano in the province of Brescia, and the "Health Walk" by the Pro Loco of Guidizzolo di Mantua were recognized. In the Marche region, the "Arcevia Grape Festival" by the Pro Loco of Arcevia in the province of Ancona, the "Templaria Festival" by the Pro Loco of Castignano in the province of Ascoli Piceno, and "Candele a Candelara" in the province of Pesaro Urbino were recognized. In Piedmont, the award went to "Il Borgo di Babbo Natale" by the Pro Loco Tourist Association of Candelo in the province of Biella. In Sardinia, the award went to "Sa Battalla" by the Pro Loco Sanluri in the province of Medio Campidano. In Sicily, the "Living Nativity Scene of Sutera" in the province of Caltanissetta was recognized.
In Tuscany, "The Night of Count Baldovino" by the Pro Loco Monte San Savino, in the province of Arezzo. In Trentino, "Faedo Town of the Nativity Scene" by the Pro Loco Faedo APS, in the province of Trento, and in Veneto, "La Rocca in Fiore" by the Pro Loco di Monselice, in the province of Padua, "L'Antica Sagra del Santo Sepolcro" by the Pro Loco Villanova di Camposampiero, in the province of Padua, and "La Festa delle Rose di Carta" by the Pro Loco Monticello Conte Otto APS, in the province of Vicenza, are awarded.
In Campania, the Special Mentions for Quality Events were awarded to 'Sannio between Flavors and Folklore' by the Benevento Provincial UNPLI and 'The Identity of a Territory as Told by the Pro Loco... Colors, Flavors, Sounds and Traditions' by the Caserta Provincial UNPLI, while for Quality Festivals, the Special Mention went to the 'Pro Loco Festival in the Sibillini' by the Comunanza Pro Loco and the Ascoli Piceno and Fermo Provincial UNPLI.
The Unpli has awarded many festivals but the ceremony started yesterday, people think it is a useful recognition, but some organizers cannot uphold the rules, the volunteers work without pay and the area hopes to be reborn, but the numbers seem exaggerated, and not everything is clear or coherent.
It seems like a very fair step to me, but at the same time I wonder how the festivals are chosen: some small towns have put in years of work and then seem to be forgotten, while others have been branded immediately without explanation; the criteria seem unclear and perhaps they change.