Montagnano: Sagra della Nana and History

The Sagra della Nana and the history of Montagnano give a stay two distinct focal points. The festival links a culinary occasion to late September; the castle, former autonomy, and local dishes offer other perspectives on the town. This is a useful distinction when choosing the reason for your trip: the Sagra is tied to a particular season, while the castle and recipe traditions offer a broader historical and culinary view of Montagnano.

The Sagra della Nana Through the Year

The Sagra della Nana has been held every year since 1973 in the rooms of Montagnano’s oratory, at the end of September. Nana is the local dialect term for duck; the festival is dedicated to nana, which is oven-roasted and traditionally prepared “impillotata.” The name and occasion thus refer to a specific local food tradition. If you would like to plan your stay around this festival, check the exact dates for your travel year. Its annual return and late-September timing provide a general guide, but do not replace the specific event dates. The festival calendar, rather than the month alone, should therefore guide your choice of travel date.

Duck, Pici, and Bread

Montagnano’s culinary traditions include pici al sugo di nana. Ground duck meat is used in the sauce, along with other ingredients. Duck features differently here than at the Sagra: there, nana is the subject of the festival; in the pici, it is an ingredient in the sauce. Montagnano’s traditional bread is made using a recipe without salt. For travelers with a culinary interest, these are three distinct points of reference: the festival, duck as an ingredient in the sauce, and salt-free bread.

The Castle and Historical Context

Montagnano was an old and important castle, documented in the 12th century as being under the authority of the Cathedral of Arezzo. The town enjoyed a degree of autonomy until 1774, after which it was reintegrated into the community of Monte San Savino. These details emphasize different aspects of its history: the first concerns the castle’s status and the authority it was under; the second concerns the town’s political standing and the end of that autonomy. For those interested in history, they offer a timeline from the 12th century to 1774, while making clear that the castle’s status and the town’s later autonomy are not the same kind of claim.

In the Valdichiana area, duck was historically one of the favored animals slaughtered by the farming population for food. This regional context complements the local term nana and the Sagra: the historical food culture relates to the Valdichiana, while the dialect term and festival connect it to Montagnano.

Bus Line I

Bus line I runs through Montagnano between Badia al Pino and Monte San Savino FS. Its service was suspended until September 14, 2026. If you are traveling after that date, please check the current timetable and whether the line is operating on your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Rigo, Ortignano Raggiolo, Caprese Michelangelo, Campoluci, Oliveto, Papiano, Strada, Duddova.

Return to the main travel overview: Arezzo.