Lounges, workshops, shows and taste: here is the program of the first Bancarel’Miele

On September 20–21 in Mulazzo, a new family event: a new festival dedicated to the territory

Mulazzo is preparing to celebrate its deep-rooted beekeeping tradition with an event and itinerary created by the territory, for the territory. After the exhibition “Collapse” by Elisabetta Susani, the first edition of Bancarel’Miele arrives: a new family-friendly event, a new festival of taste. On Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, the historic village and main town will host two days of exhibitions, markets, themed lounges, shows and experiences designed to explore the world of bees and, from there, the world of the Lunigiana PDO Honey Consortium.

The first day — Saturday, September 20 — will feature three themed lounges with experts and institutions to promote Lunigiana PDO Honey as a tool for food and environmental culture, sustainable tourism, and the protection of places, traditions, and supply chains.

The first lounge opens at 10:00 with “PDO, PGI, PAT and Organic Products: an economic value for Tuscany.”Participants include: Stefania Saccardi, Vice President of the Tuscany Region, Councillor for Agriculture, Rural Development, Mountain Policies and Toscana Diffusa; Valter Tamburini, President of the North-West Tuscany Chamber of Commerce; Gianluigi Giannetti, President of the Union of Mountain Municipalities of Lunigiana; Gianni Lorenzetti, President of the Province of Massa-Carrara; Vittorio Marcelli, Vice-President of the Lunigiana Rural District; Serenella Mortani, Head of Città del Miele; Marina Lauri, Head of Agriculture and Forestry at ANCI Toscana; Fausto Giovanelli, President of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park.

At 2:30 p.m., the second roundtable will discuss the recent development: “The new PDO honeys of Lunigiana, an opportunity for consumers and beekeepers.” Participants: Fabio Venè, President of the Lunigiana PDO Honey Consortium; Giuseppe Lucano, Sales Director of Il Pungiglione; Serenella Mortani; Stefano Gallorini, President of Toscana Miele; Angela Crescenzi, Agriculture and Local Development Department, Tuscany Region; Giovanni Carotti, entomologist and head of the LIFEBEEadapt project for the Apennine Park; Antonio Felicioli, Professor of Biochemistry and Apidology at the University of Pisa; Andrea Musso, Director of CONAD Lunigiana.

At 4:30 p.m., the third lounge: “PDO, PGI, PAT and Organic Products as drivers of food and wine tourism in Lunigiana.” Speakers include: Pierangelo Caponi, President of Sigeric Soc. Coop.; Barbara Maffei, Lunigiana Tourist Operators Association; Giaime Berti, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa; Roberto Galassi, President of GAL Lunigiana; Lucia Baracchini, Head of I.I.S. Alberghiero Pacinotti-Belmesseri; Matteo Podenzana, President of Slow Food LuniApua; Francesca Ferrari, Board Member of the Tuscan PGI Olive Oil Protection Consortium and President of Coldiretti Massa-Carrara; Luca Maria Simoncini, President of CIA Toscana Nord; Sergio Pagani, La Rita Organic Farm; and again Barbara Maffei for her Montagna Verde Farm.

All lounges, free of charge, will be introduced by the Mayor of Mulazzo, Claudio Novoa, and moderated by Marco Cavallotti, Director of the Lunigiana PDO Honey Consortium.

Sunday, September 21 will instead be a day of celebration, shows, workshops and taste, with the inauguration of the heart of Bancarel’Miele at 10:00 a.m. in the presence of authorities, the press, the Mayor and the Consortium President. With the market open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the village of Mulazzo will welcome visitors with food and wine areas dedicated to products linked to Lunigiana PDO Honey and other local specialties, including a guided tasting at 11 a.m. by Giovanna Spreafico.

Activities start at 10 a.m. with two experiences for children and adults: bee-themed face painting and the “BeeHotel” construction workshop for pollinator insects. At 11:00, a guided tasting of local cheeses paired with Lunigiana PDO Acacia and Chestnut honeys will be offered by the Consortium, in collaboration with ONAF Massa Carrara – Lucca (reservation required).

At 11:30, the family show “The Circus of the Bees” by Sara Micol Natoli — animation and street (or rather, meadow) theater.

At 2:30 p.m., the DIY workshop for making natural ointments based on beeswax and essential oils, curated by Elisa Caser (reservation required – for adults and accompanied children). At 3:00 p.m., a new round of face painting and BeeHotel building.

At 5:00 p.m., the second guided tasting of local cheeses paired with Lunigiana PDO honeys (Acacia and Chestnut) will be held, followed by another performance of “The Circus of the Bees.” For info and reservations: 3807839721.

In addition, nearby, visitors can take part in “Beekeeper for a Day,” a guided tour into the fascinating world of beekeeping, curated by Il Pungiglione in Boceda, at the educational apiary and collective honey house of Toscana Miele. Sessions for adults and children will be held at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. (reservations: ‪3381930802‬).

For the occasion, throughout the weekend, an exclusive photo exhibition will also be set up in the village: “Pollinating insects, nature and Lunigiana,” curated by Gruppo Fotoamatori Tresana — in addition to the ongoing “Collapse”exhibition at the Teatrino Malaspina.

Bancarel’Miele is a project and event curated by the Municipality of Mulazzo and the Lunigiana PDO Honey Consortium, organized with the support of the Tuscany Region, the North-West Tuscany Chamber of Commerce, CONAD Lunigiana, Matec Industries, Edison, and Aby Broker. It is sponsored by the association “The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” (of which Mulazzo is a member), the Union of Mountain Municipalities of Lunigiana, Coldiretti Massa Carrara, Le Città del Miele, Città Slow, Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park, Ambasciatori dei Mieli, Il Pungiglione, and the ONAF Delegation of Massa Carrara – Lucca.