Event: Italy

Black Truffle Fair

When:	29 Feb - 2 Mar 2008 (various dates)
Where:	Piazza San Benedetto
Costs:	Free

Norcia is home to the mother of all Italian black truffle fairs. Local and national food producers show off their specialities over two tasty weekends.

The truffles found around Norcia are black; gourmets consider them inferior to the white variety, but they are delicious nonetheless - and far from cheap. In local recipes they are grated and sprinkled over tagliatelle, but they can also be applied to fish or roast meat.

Norcia also has a whole culture of salting, seasoning and treating pork-meat: their prosciutto competes with Parma's, while their sausages and spiced salamis are said to be the best in Italy. Another local speciality is the Castelluccio lentil, while excellent wine and honey from all over the peninsula can also be sampled.

The Mostra del Tartufo has the added advantage of being held in one of the most beautiful and less-visited parts of Italy, set high in the wild countryside of the Valnerina. Norcia is somewhat out of the way, so reaching it by car is the easiest way, though buses go there from Spoleto six times a day. If you have a car, don't miss the beautiful Pilate's lake and the mountain villages that surround the town.