Mushroom hunting in Valtiberina

Nearly every year, the forests of the Valtiberina are full of mushrooms which prove an important culinary and economic resource for the area in autumn and spring. With a little practice, you can get to know more about which varieties are available during different times of year. In the Valtiberina, you can find Porcini and Royal Amanita mushrooms during autumn. Lots of other edible mushrooms, like the blackthorn (Tricholoma georgii) can be found in the spring. They have a pungent scent and grow in fields throughout the territory. Don’t miss the ‘Blackthorn and Shepard’s Festival’ food fair which is celebrated in Pieve Santo Stefano in May.

There are several mycological associations in the area, which are always ready to supply information and ideas regarding how to recognize mushrooms. In order to safely enjoy this delicious food, it’s essential to be able to precisely identify their unique characteristics.

Restaurants and agricultural establishments in the Valtiberina often serve mushroom dishes and are willing to teach guests how to preserve mushrooms in oil for future use. Traditionally, mushrooms are a great accompaniment to pasta, like tagliatelle stretched by hand, as well as being delicious fried or paired with fresh cheese.