Acqualagna and the truffle

The truffle capital

At the exit of the Furlo Gorge, at the confluence of the Candigliano and Burano rivers, Acqualagna is a small town that has become one of the Italian capitals of the truffle: it is said that about two thirds of all the truffles traded in Italy pass through its market. The woods of oak, poplar, willow and hazel that cover the hills and valleys around the town, between the Apennines of the Marche and the Furlo, are particularly rich in this precious underground fungus, thanks to the soil and climate, and all year round, with different seasons, the "tartufai", the truffle hunters, go out with their trained dogs to look for them.

Here grow several species of truffle: the precious white truffle (Tuber magnatum Pico), harvested in autumn, from October to December, with its intense, unmistakable aroma; the black truffle of Norcia (Tuber melanosporum), in winter; the "bianchetto" in spring; and the summer black truffle, the "scorzone", in summer. Every year, at the end of October and in November, Acqualagna hosts the Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco, one of the most important truffle fairs in Italy, with a market of truffles and local products, tastings, cooking shows and events, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors; other fairs are held in winter for the black truffle and in summer. Many restaurants in the town and the surrounding area offer dishes with truffles, such as tagliatelle, fried eggs and crostini, and it is possible to take part in truffle hunts with local tartufai.

Tip: visit during the white truffle fair in autumn; book a truffle hunting experience with a local guide and his dog.

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