Primi dei Primi

In Sansepolcro from May 1 to May 3, comes Primi dei Primi, the festival dedicated to pasta dishes in celebration of the city’s deep connection with one of Italy’s most famous export, from the tradition of production, gastronomic culture and new signature interpretations. 
For 3 days, the historic center becomes the heart of a rich program designed for enthusiasts, families, industry professionals and the merely curious (or hungry!), with appointments that combine cuisine, entertainment and education, garnished with an exaltation of the area itself.

The event stems from the historical relationship between Sansepolcro and the art of pasta, also linked to the presence of Italy’s first mechanical pasta factory, Buitoni. 
It is from here that the festival takes shape, telling the story of the city through traditional recipes, gourmet dinners, events with chefs and producers, experiences in the stores plus social occasions that transform downtown into a veritable pathway dedicated to one of the symbols of the Italian table.

The program includes:

• Friday, May 1
  
  5:00 pm in the Council Chamber of the Palazzo Comunale – a conference with free admission
  
  6:30 pm in Palazzo Alberti – the opening of the Buitoni Exhibition, curated by Cral Buitoni
  
  7:00 pm Piazza Torre di Berta – the official inauguration with pasta appetizer and flag-thrower performance
  
  8:00 pm in the Chiostro di San Francesco – Gala Dinner, offering a menu signed by starred chefs in an evening dedicated to gourmet pasta, with tickets for the event costing 120 euro for adults and 30 euro for children aged 11 years or under, with reservations required
• Saturday, May 2
  
  11:00 am in the downtown area – Pasta in Vetrina with themed window displays in the stores around the village, the Buitoni Exhibition at Palazzo Alberti and Le Botteghe Primi dei Primi, with the exhibition and sale of pasta from local pasta makers and typical products from the Valtiberina area
  
  From 11:30 am to 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm in Piazza Torre di Berta – Street Chef with freshly prepared pasta dishes, where admission costs 30 euro and includes 5 pasta dishes plus beverages
  
  At 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm in the historic center – Cooking School with demonstrations by Filip Matjaz at 2:00 pm then Fabio Groppi at 4:00 pm, free for entry ticket holders but requiring reservations for up to a maximum of 40 attendees 
  
  7:30 pm in Piazza Torre di Berta – Pasta Party!, including local specialties, signature cocktails and live music
  
  From 11:59 pm – the conclusion of the event with the Spaghettata di Mezzanotte, a longstanding tradition amongst partygoers to savor a generous plate of spaghetti at midnight before or after a big night out
• Sunday, May 3
  
  From 11:00 am – the Pasta in Vetrina window displays, the Buitoni Exhibition and Le Botteghe Primi dei Primi return The Street Chef will also be held at the same times as the day prior
  
  At 1:00 pm, under the loggia of Palazzo delle Laudi – the Pranzo della Domenica (Sunday Lunch) offers haute Italian cuisine with a large shared table in the heart of the city, where attendance is 80 euro for adults and 30 euro for children aged 11 and under, with limited seating so reservations are recommended 
  
  At 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm – Gluten Free Cooking School with Rosannina del Santo at 2:00 pm and Davide Canella at 4:00 pm plus an additional demonstration at 6:00 pm, with entry included with the admission tickets but advance reservations are required 
  
  At 7:30 pm in Piazza Torre di Berta – the conclusion of the event with the awarding of the Primi dei Primi - Pasta in Vetrina prize, dedicated to the most original and representative display.

Some of the events are free admission, while others require tickets or advance reservations, which are available online.