Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s main truffle territories. The Apennine hills behind Bologna, Modena, and Parma produce both white truffle (Tuber magnatum pico) and several varieties of black truffle, with harvest seasons running from late summer through November. Each province has at least one significant annual festival dedicated to truffles — not food fairs in the general sense, but events rooted in specific local varieties and specific places where those truffles are found. The three below are the most established.
Tartófla — Savigno (Bologna Apennines)
Savigno, in the Valsamoggia hills about 30 km southwest of Bologna, is one of Italy’s most respected white truffle areas. The hills above the Samoggia valley produce Tuber magnatum pico — the white truffle, the most prized and expensive species — from October through December, with peak season in October and early November. The Tartófla festival runs on weekends throughout October and November. It is a genuine local event: truffle hunters bring their finds to the village, restaurants offer menus built around the fresh product, and guided truffle hunts with trained dogs go out into the surrounding woodland. The village is small; the event is well-attended but not overwhelmed. Savigno is also a good reason to explore the Valsamoggia hills, which are underpromoted relative to the more famous Langhe in Piedmont but produce comparable white truffles.
From Bologna, Savigno is about 35–40 minutes by car. There is limited public transport; a car is the practical option. For a structured experience combining truffle hunting with a tasting, see the truffle hunting experience from Bologna.
Montefiorino Truffle Festival — Modena Apennines
The Montefiorino Truffle Festival is held annually in the Modena Apennines, typically in autumn. Montefiorino — a small fortified town about 60 km south of Modena, known also for its castle and its museum dedicated to the Italian Resistance — hosts a market where local gatherers sell fresh truffles directly, alongside truffle-based food stalls and cooking demonstrations. The surrounding hills produce both white and black truffles, making the festival broader in scope than the Bologna and Parma events, which are each dedicated to a single species. The town is reached from Modena via Sassuolo and Pavullo; allow around 90 minutes by car on mountain roads. Check the local municipality website for the current year’s dates.
Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Nero di Fragno — Calestano (Parma Apennines)
The Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Nero di Fragno is held annually in Calestano, a small village in the Parma Apennines on the road toward Berceto, from mid-October to mid-November. It has been running since 1984 and is dedicated specifically to the tartufo nero di Fragno — a local variety of black truffle (Tuber uncinatum, the Burgundy truffle) found in the woods around the Fragno hamlet above Calestano. This variety has a longer season than the Perigord black truffle and a characteristically earthy, woody aroma. The fair is a proper national-level event: a covered truffle market where authenticated Fragno truffles are sold by weight, restaurants in Calestano offer prix-fixe truffle menus throughout the festival period, and cooking demonstrations run daily at weekends. It is the most focused and best-organised of the three festivals in terms of the specific product on offer.
Calestano is about 35 km from Parma by car (around 45 minutes on the SS62 toward La Spezia, turning onto the SP34). No direct public transport; a car is necessary. The festival is also a good starting point for exploring the Parma Apennines more broadly — the road continues toward the truffle territory of northern Tuscany at Pontremoli.
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Truffle Types and Seasons
- White truffle (Tuber magnatum pico) — the most prized species; found in the Bologna and Modena Apennines; season October–December, peak October–November; very high price per kilogram, sold fresh only (does not preserve well)
- Tartufo nero di Fragno (Tuber uncinatum) — Burgundy-type black truffle specific to the Calestano/Parma area; season September–January; milder than the Perigord black truffle but more aromatic than the summer truffle; less expensive than white truffle
- Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) — found across the region from May to August; much less expensive, widely used in pasta dishes and sauces throughout the year; the truffle most commonly found in jars and preserved products
- Scorzone (Tuber mesentericum) — occasionally found in the Bologna hills; distinctive bitter aftertaste; used in cooking but not consumed raw
For more on autumn festivals in Bologna beyond truffles, see the seasonal events guide. For an active truffle hunt experience from Bologna with trained dogs in the Apennines, bookings are available year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you find truffles near Bologna?
The Bolognese Apennines — specifically the Valsamoggia hills around Savigno, about 30 km southwest of Bologna — are the main white truffle area near the city. Tuber magnatum pico (white truffle) is found here from October through December. The Tartófla festival in Savigno runs on weekends in October and November, with fresh truffle markets, restaurant menus, and guided truffle hunts with dogs. A car is needed; about 35–40 minutes from Bologna.
What is the Tartufo Nero di Fragno?
The tartufo nero di Fragno is a local variety of black truffle (Tuber uncinatum, the Burgundy truffle) found in the woods around the hamlet of Fragno, above Calestano in the Parma Apennines. It has a longer season than the Perigord black truffle (September–January) and an earthy, woody aroma. The Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Nero di Fragno in Calestano, running since 1984, is the main event dedicated to it — mid-October to mid-November, with an authenticated truffle market and prix-fixe menus in local restaurants.
What is the difference between white and black truffles?
White truffle (Tuber magnatum pico) is the most prized and expensive species — found in northern and central Italy (Piedmont, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna), harvested October–December, sold fresh only as it does not preserve. Its aroma is intense, garlicky, and complex. Black Perigord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is harvested December–March and is more widely cultivated across Europe. Burgundy/Fragno truffle (Tuber uncinatum) is milder and cheaper, with a longer season (September–January). Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) is the most common and least expensive, used year-round in preserved truffle products.
When is truffle season in Emilia-Romagna?
The white truffle season runs October–December with a peak in October–November — this is when the Tartófla festival in Savigno and the Montefiorino festival take place. The Fragno black truffle season is longer: September–January, with the Calestano festival running mid-October to mid-November. Summer truffles (Tuber aestivum) are available May–August across the region. If you are planning a visit around truffles, October is the best month: white truffle at peak, Fragno festival underway, and cooler weather making the Apennine hills pleasant.
How do you get to Savigno and Calestano from Bologna?
Savigno is about 30 km southwest of Bologna in the Valsamoggia hills — 35–40 minutes by car. There is limited public transport; a car is the practical option. Calestano is in the Parma Apennines, about 35 km from Parma (45 minutes on the SS62 then SP34). Neither is easily reached without a car. For a structured truffle experience from Bologna without needing to navigate independently, a guided truffle hunt from Bologna includes transport and the full hunting experience.
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