Sagra del Fungo Cardoncello 2026 a Gravina in Puglia

As autumn deepens across the Alta Murgia plateau, one of Puglia’s most prized culinary treasures takes center stage: the Cardoncello mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii). In late October 2026, the town of Gravina in Puglia hosts its annual Sagra del Fungo Cardoncello, a weekend-long celebration dedicated to this meaty, flavorful mushroom that grows wild across the Murge hills and is now cultivated by local farms using traditional methods.

The King of Puglian Mushrooms

The Cardoncello is not just any mushroom. With its thick, firm stem and broad cap, it has a rich, slightly nutty flavor and a texture that holds up beautifully to grilling, roasting, and sautéing. It grows in symbiosis with the roots of wild thistles and umbellifers across the Murge and has been harvested in this region since antiquity. Today, Gravina and the surrounding Alta Murgia area are the heart of Cardoncello production, and the sagra is the perfect opportunity to taste it in every possible form.

What to Expect

The sagra sets up in Gravina’s historic center, with food stalls lining the streets around the cathedral and the 18th-century Ponte Acquedotto (the town’s iconic aqueduct-bridge). Local restaurants and producers prepare an incredible variety of Cardoncello dishes: grilled with olive oil and parsley, sautéed with garlic, baked into focaccia, folded into fresh pasta, and even preserved sott’olio (in oil) to take home.

Beyond the food, the sagra features guided foraging walks in the Murge countryside (advance booking recommended), cooking demonstrations by local chefs, and live music in the evenings. There is also a market where you can buy fresh Cardoncelli, as well as local olive oil, wines from the Gravina DOC area, and traditional Murgia cheeses like pallone di Gravina.

Practical Information

• Location: Centro Storico, Gravina in Puglia (BA) — around Piazza della Cattedrale and the Ponte Acquedotto area
• Time: Saturday from 12:00 to 23:00; Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00
• Tickets: Free entry; food and drinks purchased directly from stalls (dishes €5–€12)
• Getting there: Gravina in Puglia is about 50 minutes from Bari by car (SS96). It is also reachable by train on the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane line from Bari (Gravina station). The town is 25 minutes from Matera, making it an easy day trip if you are staying in the Sassi.
• Foraging walks: Book in advance through the Pro Loco Gravina or check the official sagra Facebook page for details closer to the date.

For food lovers exploring Puglia beyond the coast, the Sagra del Fungo Cardoncello is an unforgettable taste of the Murge’s wild, rustic side — and a perfect excuse to discover Gravina’s dramatic landscapes and underground cave churches.