Santa Sofia Cittaslow at the Heart of the Festival of Recovery

Il decalogo dei tempi di recupero

Santa Sofia, nestled in the Romagna-Tuscany Apennines and proudly part of the Cittaslow network, will take center stage at the 2025 Festival of Recovery (August 29–31). Surrounded by the Casentinesi Forests, this town—where quality of life and the art of slowing down have become a model of development—will welcome chefs, winemakers, bakers, gelato makers, and artisans from across Italy and abroad. Together, they will share practices and ideas on the value of food, fighting waste, and recovering traditions.

Being a Cittaslow town means prioritizing community, environment, social connections, and local economy. In Santa Sofia, this philosophy translates into real, inclusive activities. During the Festival, the town will host some of the most engaging events: workshops, foraging experiences, local markets, and tastings designed to help residents and visitors discover a more ethical and sustainable way of eating.

On Saturday, August 30, Santa Sofia will host the lively “Forest Picnic,” featuring chefs such as Juri Chiotti, Marco Ambrosino, Alessandro di Tizio, Stefano Guizzetti, and Martina Francesconi—interpreting the deep connection with nature in creative and contemporary ways. Also in Santa Sofia, Alessandro Di Tizio, former forager at the Mirazur in Menton, will guide immersive foraging experiences, leading participants to discover wild herbs and forest flavors.

The program will also include moments dedicated to breakfast, pizza, cocktails, and recovery gelato, in perfect Cittaslow style: creative gastronomy that reduces waste and enhances local ingredients. Visitors can explore the producers’ market, attend hands-on workshops and conferences, all designed to share knowledge and spark conversations in a convivial atmosphere.

The Festival of Recovery was born from the association Tempi di Recupero, founded by Carlo Catani, and has quickly become an international point of reference for those promoting a new approach to food. Santa Sofia, with its identity as a Cittaslow town, is the ideal place to host this spirit: here conviviality meets innovation, tradition dialogues with sustainability, and the future is built from everyday good practices.

From August 29 to 31, Santa Sofia will be the beating heart of the “recoverers’” network, welcoming all those who believe that changing the world—starting from what we put on our plates—is not only possible, but already underway.