Cervia Hunchback Thistle Festival

Cardo di Cervia | © Mauro Foli

The Cervia hunchback cardoon festival, a festival dedicated to the local vegetable, takes place at the weekend in the historic centre of Cervia.

The peculiarity of the Cervia hunchback cardoon is that it is ripened buried under the sea sand. Only in this way does it lose the bitter aftertaste of the common cardoon and acquire its unmistakable sweetness. It is sweet and crunchy on the palate, so much so that it can also be enjoyed raw. The thistle, with its excellent purifying and antioxidant properties, is produced in small quantities and is only cultivated during the winter.

The square is transformed into a lively gastronomic market, with various stands where you can taste gastronomic proposals linked to tradition or even revisited with skilful innovation and buy products made from the cardoon.

Not only food, but also music with live concerts and cooking workshops.

A unique opportunity to taste the cardoon in all its variations and have fun together.

2025 Program

Saturday 25th
10.30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Gastronomic market

3.30 p.m.
Concert with the Pasquaroli of Ponte di Pietra

4:45 pm
Concert of Romagna music and dancing

6:30 pm
Opening of Baita del Cardo

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Sunday 26th
10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Gastronomic market

3.30 p.m.
The Exodus & Friends

6:30 p.m.
Opening of Baita del Cardo