There’s a special time of year when Camaiore transforms into a grand urban garden. The courtyards of the old town are dressed with scenic vegetable gardens, the air is filled with the fragrance of aromatic herbs, seeds, and freshly baked bread, while the squares come alive with voices, smiles, and tastings.
On Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, 2025, the historic center will once again be the stage for one of Versilia’s most loved events: È la Via dell’Orto, the festival that for fourteen years has brought nature into the heart of the city, blending rural charm with urban creativity. Two days to celebrate farming culture and agri-gastronomy, where the vegetable garden is not just a physical space but a symbol: of care, of beauty, and of a deep connection with the land. An idea of a greener, more welcoming, more authentic city.
Chef Tomei and the Onion Festival
What makes this event truly special are not only the carefully curated installations and stands brimming with delights, but also the personalities that bring it to life. First among them is Chef Cristiano Tomei, the festival’s artistic director and now the iconic face of È la Via dell’Orto, able to turn even a simple chat into a real show.
Back this year is the famous Orto Talk in Piazza XXIX Maggio: an open table where stories of cooking, flavors, smiles, and plenty of passion come together. This year’s theme? The onion. A humble ingredient, yet one that can bring both tears and laughter. “It will be the Festival of the Fiatella!” jokes Tomei, who will be joined by a team of chefs from all over Italy, ready to share their stories and cook for the audience.
Among the expected guests: Antonio Sorrentino, Giovanni Mandara, Valentino Cassanelli, Antonio Biafora, and the much-loved Enrica Guidi, actress of “I Delitti del Barlume” and well-known face of Celebrity MasterChef, who will bring to the stage anecdotes and recipes from her everyday kitchen.
Green Everywhere — Even in Your Hands
But È la Via dell’Orto is also about workshops, experimentation, and discovery. In the stunning impluvium of Palazzo Tori Massoni, the Garden Area returns, curated by blogger Nara Marrucci: an oasis of meetings, classes, and demonstrations dedicated to botany, floriculture, and the green arts. From creating decorative wreaths to botanical embroidery, from using herbs in cooking to the magical world of bees, it will be a chance to get your hands dirty (in the best sense!) and take home a piece of nature.
Creative Gardens and Urban Wonders
As tradition dictates, the streets, squares, and courtyards of the town center will also transform into small green oases, thanks to the Creative Gardens, true artistic vegetable gardens designed by schools and citizens. A way to show that cultivating is not only useful and sustainable, but also an act of creativity. And that even a corner of the city can become fertile, beautiful, and alive.
One More Reason to Love Camaiore
È la Via dell’Orto is one of those events that are good for the soul. Because it’s not just a fair, but a collective celebration that speaks of the land, identity, and simple beauty. An opportunity to rediscover Camaiore from another perspective: slower, more natural, more authentic. And for those thinking of living here, or investing in this special corner of Tuscany, it’s also a beautiful calling card.
