Umbria ( Trevi - Sagra del Sedano Nero e della Salsiccia )

The thought of going to a country fair (Sagra) in Umbria is always full of excitement. Firstly, you can expect to savour the best local produce that the town is offering and also to explore the town which has perhaps never been drawn to your attention.

From Perugia, there are trains heading for Roma that has a stopover at Trevi, another quaint and medieval town that is full of charm and character. I realized that I was the only one who alighted at the train station. I hoped at that moment that I didn’t read the wrong date for the country fair of Black Celery and Sausages (Sagra del Sedano e della Salsiccia) which is an annual event in Trevi. From the train station, you can see the hilltop town from the foot of the hill. It is about 4km if you were to drive up. However, if you explore by foot, you can take some short cuts along the way and admire the well-preserved houses of the locals.

Once you reach the main square in Trevi, you can see the clock tower and the tourist office. I decided to grab a map of Trevi and also to confirm my train departure back to Perugia. The staff were preparing to leave the office on that Saturday afternoon. However, they switched on the internet server again, printed out the train schedule and recommended me which spots to capture the best shots in Trevi. I was quite impressed by their friendliness and excellent services despite me ringing their bell when the official opening hours have ended.


The sagra took place in the main town square. There were few owners selling the infamous Black Celery, which has a more dense smell and colour than the usual celery. A good way is to dip the celery sticks into a bowl with extra virgin olive oil and salt. The olive oil have just undergone first pressing and bottles of the extra virgin olive oil are ready for gourmet experts. Trevi is also reputable for their olive oil in Umbria and they are presentable and useful souvenirs too.

A visit here is incomplete if you didn’t try the sausages. As the sausages are being grilled, the aroma rises up into the air and you just can’t resist them even though you have to queue patiently for them. The sausages can be purchased accompanied with or without bun. To complete the whole meal, you should end off with a glass of the locally produced red wine that is served from a mini oak barrel.

There are also stalls selling locally made bread and pastries. You can even pick up some items for picnic here and stroll along the countryside and choose a spot under one of the numerous olive trees.


For the rest of the afternoon, I was roaming around the town and walking in a maze as I was too lazy to follow the map.Perhaps I was a bit tipsy (brillo) by then. At a corner, I saw a signage on Exhibition of Vittoria Paris (La mostra di Vittorio Paris). The painter himself was friendly and invited me into his small room which his masterpieces were hanging around the four walls. Vittorio’s paintings are full of vibrancy and life especially with his brillant choice of colours. That probably reflected his positive outlook in life even though he has to take care of his aged mother and son. Every year, Vittorio will have his masterpieces featured on the poster of the annual Sagra del Sedano e della Salsiccia.

After parting with Vittorio, I headed back to the historical centre and saw the marching band approaching and the crowds were cheering them with applauses. The band consist of children as young as 4 years old to young adults. It may not be a flawless performance but their team spirit is commendable.

As it was time to leave the town, I was looking for my way back to the train station. However, I noticed a young boy was looking at me with much enthusiasm. I greeted him Ciao, mio amico just to practice my basic Italian. His parents were surprised to see me as I seemed to be the only Asia in Trevi that afternoon. They asked if I needed any help and I replied that I was looking for the fastest shortcut to catch my next train back to Perugia. Without hesistation, they invited me into their car and offered to drive me there. During the brief ride, the young boy, Lorenzo was very inquisitive and asked me lots of questions about where I come from and what languages am I proficient in. I also seize the opportunity to reply back in Italian and was glad that my responses were well understood by the trio.