Torta dei Fieschi 2026 — Lavagna’s Medieval Wedding Pageant

Every August, the seaside town of Lavagna turns back the clock more than 700 years for the Torta dei Fieschi, one of Liguria’s most charming and longest-running historical reenactments. What began in 1949 as a local tradition has grown into a two-day festival that fills the medieval streets with costumed parades, flag-throwers, and a giant cake shared among thousands of visitors.

The Legend Behind the Festival

The celebration commemorates the 1230 wedding of Count Opizzo Fieschi to Bianca De’ Bianchi, a noble union that sealed an alliance between two powerful families of the Ligurian Levante. The Fieschi dynasty — which would go on to produce two popes — ruled much of the Tigullio Gulf from their strongholds in Lavagna and nearby San Salvatore di Cogorno.

The modern festival captures the pageantry of that 13th-century wedding with a full medieval procession through Lavagna’s historic centre. Drummers, flag-throwers (sbandieratori), horse-drawn carriages, and hundreds of participants in period costume parade past the Basilica of Santo Stefano and along the carruggi (narrow lanes) of the old town.

Two Days of Festivities

The event unfolds over two evenings:

• August 13 — L’Addio do Fantin (The Bachelor’s Farewell): An evening parade through the historical centre where a herald, reading from a parchment in 13th-century vernacular, proclaims the upcoming nuptials. The streets fill with music, torchlight, and medieval merriment as the town “sends off” the count on his last night of bachelorhood.
• August 14 — The Wedding & Cake Game: The grand wedding procession culminates in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where the real fun begins. Visitors buy coloured tickets — azure for men, pink for women — each printed with a medieval noun. The challenge? Find the person of the opposite sex holding the matching ticket. Couples who pair up win a slice of the enormous “Torta dei Fieschi,” a unique local cake produced exclusively by Lavagna’s pasticcerie for this festival.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Lavagna is on the Genoa–La Spezia railway line, about 40 minutes from Genoa Brignole and 50 minutes from Cinque Terre. The town centre and festival area are a 5-minute walk from Lavagna station.
• Where to stay: Lavagna itself has beachfront hotels, or stay in nearby Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo (15–20 minutes by train) for more accommodation options.
• What to eat: Beyond the festival cake, don’t miss the local focaccia al formaggio (paper-thin dough layered with stracchino cheese) at the traditional sciamadde (wood-fired bakeries) in town. The nearby town of Chiavari is just across the Entella River bridge for more dining options.
• Admission: Free. The cake tickets cost a few euros, and the proceeds support the festival.
• Combine with: The festival falls during Ferragosto week — pair it with the Ferragosto fireworks in Santa Margherita Ligure (Aug 15) for an unforgettable Ligurian summer week.