On the 30th and 31st of July Marta celebrated the eleventh Festa del Villano, the workers of the land, with food, gastronomic stands and music.
This event is organised by the Associazione Culturale “Marta senza confini” ( Cultural Association of Marta) in collaboration with il Comitato Festeggiamenti Madonna SS.ma del Monte (Festival Committee For the Church of Madonnna del Monte). Thanks to the success of last year’s event there was an extra sponsor this year, Federazione Italiana Cuochi (Italian Federation of Chefs).
On these two evenings it was possible to enjoy supper, live music and good company in the open air and we took my cousin who was staying with us at the time, along to experience a typically local event.
Of course the food was the highlight of the evening and was delicious, Bruschette miste, Pasta del Villano, Braciola di Miale alla brace (Pork Chop cooked on an open fire), Fagioli con le cotiche (Beans with pork rinds), Patate fritte. Finally for a dessert some Cannaiola (a local sweet red dessert wine) and ciambelline ( a sort of biscuit).
While this may not be every ones idea of a fine dining supper it was certainly tasty.
The funds raised from this event are used to help maintain the church of Our Lady Madonna del Monte that overlooks the town and has been the destination of pilgrims for many years.
I will let my photos tell the rest of the story.
The open fire provides the hot embers that the pork steaks are cooked over.
These pork steaks were so tasty.
The service area.
The dining area.
The food.
The market stalls.
The market stalls from further along the promenade.
I also posted about this event last year Festa del Villano - Marta - 2010
There are more photos to be seen, including my market stall close up shots from the event in the album on Flickr .com. Festa del Villano - Marta - July 2011
All the photos used here are my own work 
All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection
I certainly do not envy all those poor volunteers sweating in the kitchen, lol!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen so many "sagre and feste" advertisements like all those seen in Tuscany last weekend, unbelievable!
It's funny because in the past "villano" meant worker of the land..now it means rude!
xxx
I was going to write what Michela above wrote, about the etimology and history of the word "villano". Quite interesting, really.
ReplyDeleteThe festa del villano looks like a very successful sagra.
Another wonderful festival my friend. That menu sounds good to me,and I bet the pork steaks were really tasty cooked that way. As always, lovely photos for us to get a real flavour of the event. My mouth really is watering as I type this!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very good turn out for the event. I bet the pork steaks were as tasty as they looked. What did your cousin think?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful fete - and the food looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! It looks like you had a fantastic time. The food looks simply amazing!
ReplyDelete... and your photographs tell the story so well. The food looks good as well!
ReplyDeleteYummy and so many people look very happy.
ReplyDeleteI would like to go there and eat much steaks.:)
What a great community event and all for such a worthy cause. My husband saw the food tray and asked where this was. I told him and he said, "Oh shoot. Too far to go for lunch." Ha!
ReplyDeleteOH LINDA!!!
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE this post!!!! esp. that DELISH looking full plate of FOOD!!! YUMMM!!!! This feels sooo cozy and homey... I wish I were there right at this moment!! Have a wonderful day....
Leesa
Fabulous festa! I would have loved being there!
ReplyDeletelove your shots. Especially the last one with the wonderful lights reflections!
Thanks for sharing;o)
¤ Have a nice and happy day ¤
The pork does look delicious! I love that it was to help the church too, not just good food but for a good cause to help :)
ReplyDeleteThe Italians certainly know how to celebrate! The food looks and sounded delicious! Love the last shot of the market stalls.
ReplyDeletewow what a wonderful gathering, the food looks wonderful! Beautiful photos as always,,
ReplyDeleteSembra deliziosa! YUM!
ReplyDeleteWish I could have some of that food for lunch as it looks wonderful. Great that it benefits the church. Have a splendid weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to raise money. Everyone likes to eat, and that food looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteHi, Have admired your lovely photos over on Beautiful World. What a lovely fete. I can almost smell the BBQ :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks well organised. Cooking food outisde for that number of people is quite an art.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun time..you know, these types of get togethers makes for a wonderful town..Just great.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice crowd and the food looked so tasty..xoRosebud/Carolyn
I bet everyone there knows everyone else and that it's a tight-knit community.
ReplyDeleteI love fiestas outdoors. Love the reflections in that last shot.
ReplyDeleteThat last photo looks lovely, Linda.
ReplyDeleteRosie
This event looks like alot of fun, especially the food. That last shot is nice!
ReplyDeleteBonne week-end,
Mimi
I love your first photo of the tables filled with people under the trees. We once attended a Portuguese wedding and it was wonderful to sit and relax outdoors as everyone enjoyed the delicious food. My mother always used to say -"Take a picture of the food!" and as a result we have so many wonderful memories of the people around the table as well. What a great time you must have had!
ReplyDeleteOh, you've made me starving now! :) Love the photos. There's nothing like eating outdoors.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful festival. I can almost heard the sounds and smell the food! The last shot of the lights reflecting on the water is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm happy to hear you might join the first Potpourri Friday next week.
I'm very envious of the wonderful food. It looks like a grand time.
ReplyDeleteOh how fun, Linda! :-) The food sounds absolutely divine - especially the meat cooked over an open fire. Delicious! :-) What a beautiful night out with the community. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun festival for a great cause! And the food looks amazing. Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteDid I spy the union jack in one of the photos? Looks like a great day - I love how there are many festivals and celebrations there
ReplyDeleteThat looks like my kind of festa! All your pictures are lovely, as always, but I like the last one best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful get together. The food looks so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos of a joyful celebration. Hugs
ReplyDeleteO, how fun this all looks. I so enjoyed looking at your lovely photo. There seems to be something fun going on all the time in Italy. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely charming. I always laugh to myself when I read your posts because everyone looks so Italian!!!
ReplyDeleteSarabx
Warm greetings from the USA. Richard from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing animal protein served with a slice of lemon. I can't have it without, it just doesn't taste as good to me. People here don't really do it, though. I always have to ask for it at restaurants.
ReplyDeleteIt all looked well organized and as though everyone had a good time. I had not heard of eating meat with feebly squeezed lemon juice until reading the comment above and seeing your photograph. Interesting! Thank you for sharing this festival with us.
ReplyDeleteFreshly squeezed lemon!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflections on the water, great capture! Looks like a wonderful festival.
ReplyDeleteThat food sure looked good. Richard from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, that is what it is ALL about. Gathering together , sharing and having lots of fun. I bet the food was simple but delicious, just the way it can be in Italy. I do remember your post from last year too.
ReplyDeleteI do have quite a collection of postcards now:-)