The Murta Pumpkin Festival is one of the most characteristic autumn festivals in Liguria, held every year in Murta, a small village located 18 kilometres from Genoa.
The pumpkin festival, called Mostra dall’A… alla Zucca, takes place in Murta during the patronal feast of San Martino in November, for two consecutive weekends.
Let’s see in detail what it consists of and the dates updated to 2023.
The Murta Pumpkin Festival: what to do
The Murta Pumpkin Festival dates back to 1987, and each edition has always featured a different theme: from the pumpkin in cooking and medicine, to trade on the Salt Road, to the arrival of pumpkins in Europe.
In its long years of existence, the exhibition has travelled through historical periods and illustrious personalities such as Giovanni da Murta, the second Doge of Genoa, and Maria, the sister of Giuseppe Mazzini, who lived in Murta.
Today’s edition has as its theme The Pumpkin between sport and games: keeping fit with cucurbits.
The festival hosts an interesting exhibition of pumpkins of every shape and beauty.
During the festival, prizes will be awarded for the most beautiful pumpkin, the largest pumpkin, the longest pumpkin and the strangest pumpkin.
The gymnasium of the Doge Giovanni da Murta Primary School will also display the school work on the theme of the exhibition, by pupils attending the Valpolcevera schools.
During the festival, guided tours of the parish church, orienteering through the narrow streets of the village, and hikes in the woods organised by the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) are also organised, suitable for children aged 4 and over.
Where to eat
During the exhibition, there are food stands where you can taste pumpkin dishes such as fritters, sweet rolls, savoury pies, tortelli, tarts, accompanied by the local white wine Novello Valpolcevera and pumpkin grappa and mulled wine.
The proceeds are donated to charity as the festival is non-profit.
Murta Pumpkin Exhibition: dates 2023
The 2023 Pumpkin Exhibition is scheduled in Murta on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November and Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November 2023.
Thetimetable is as follows: Saturday 11 November from 10.30 am to 6 pm; Sunday 12, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November from 10 am to 6 pm.
How to get to Murta
For those arriving by car, the nearest motorway exit is Genova Bolzaneto, 3 kilometres from the village of Murta.
Arriving by bus, on the other hand, the AMT line n. 74 departs from the Bolzaneto railway station.
For those who want to arrive on foot, finally, there is the possibility of walking along a series of steep, paved creuze that connect Bolzaneto to the hill of Murta, 185 metres above sea level.
One crosses Ponte San Francesco and takes Via Pino di Murta, which then becomes Via Pozzoni. The road is about 1.5 kilometres long and takes half an hour to forty minutes.
Traffic in Murta during the Pumpkin Exhibition
During the exhibition, vehicular access to Murta for non-residents is prohibited .
It will be possible to park your car in the street at the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia and take bus no. 74 (10 minutes).
AMT will increase the bus service between the valley floor and the village of Murta.
Continue reading:
1. The Village of the Pumpkins
2. Where to admire foliage in Liguria
