On 14 August Lavagna re-enacts a Fieschi wedding and gives giant cake to anyone who finds their match: history, the game, programme and vintage train.
Staircase and façade of the Basilica of Santo Stefano in Lavagna
When
every year on 14 Augustin 2026 it is Friday 14 August
Where
Lavagna's old townwith the finale in the main square
What it celebrates
the wedding of Count Opizzo Fieschi and the Sienese noblewoman Bianca de' Bianchi
The game
buy a ticket with a word on it and find someone with the same wordtogether you get a slice of cake
Ticket
€2.50 in 2025check the 2026 price locally
Getting there
the train is bestin 2026 there is also a vintage train from Genoa
The Torta dei Fieschi is the best-known festival in Lavagna. Every 14 August the town re-enacts a medieval Fieschi wedding with a costumed procession, then cuts a huge cake and hands it out through a unique game: finding your “soulmate” in the crowd. It has been held since 1949 and is one of the busiest August evenings on the Gulf of Tigullio. Here is the history, how the game works and what to know to plan your evening.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·5 min read
The story: Opizzo Fieschi's wedding
In the Middle Ages Lavagna was Fieschi land. These powerful counts fought Genoa for control of the eastern Riviera and gave the Church two popes, Innocent IV and Adrian V. The festival recalls the marriage of Count Opizzo Fieschi to Bianca de’ Bianchi, a noblewoman from Siena.
The modern re-enactment began in 1949 and has been held almost every year since: the only editions skipped were 2018, 2020 and 2021. 2025 was the 75th edition. The festival closes the Settimana Fliscana, a week of costumed events in the days before.
How the couples game works
This is what makes the Torta dei Fieschi different from any other food festival. You don’t buy cake by the slice: you win it as a pair.
Buy a ticket from the sales points in the centre. Each ticket carries a medieval-themed word, such as “alabarda” (halberd) or “menestrello” (minstrel).
Walk through the crowd looking for someone with the same word. Shout it, write it on a sign or hold your ticket up where people can see it.
Once you find your “soulmate”, go together to collect the cake: each pair gets a portion.
In 2025 tickets cost €2.50, and the slices, two per pack, came in a sealed box with the historic logo. Many hotels and restaurants in the area buy tickets for their guests. The 2026 price and sales points are announced by the town shortly before the festival. Don’t worry about the Italian words: everyone helps, and matching up with a stranger is half the fun.
The cake
It is a sponge cake filled with custard cream, made in huge quantities by the town’s pastry shops. In 2025 six bakeries from Lavagna and one from Genoa together produced around 600 kg of cake. It is displayed and cut in the square after the wedding is proclaimed: the most awaited moment of the night.
The evening programme
The official programme comes out a few weeks before each year, but the pattern is always similar:
Historic procession: performers in medieval dress, with flag-throwers and archers from the six historic districts. In 2025 the procession started in Piazza Marconi, below the Basilica of Santo Stefano, and passed along Via Dante, Piazza della Libertà and Via Roma.
Wedding proclamation: the bride and groom in costume arrive in the square and the wedding is announced to the crowd.
Cake cutting and game: the cake is handed out in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where the shows and celebrations end.
Afterwards: music and a party into Ferragosto, Italy’s 15 August holiday.
The Settimana Fliscana
In the days before 14 August, Lavagna and the surrounding area host more medieval events. In 2025 there was a food evening, an archery contest, a festival in the village of San Salvatore dei Fieschi below the basilica built by the family, and the wedding announcement on 13 August. If you can, come a few days early: the centre is less crowded and the atmosphere is the same.
Practical tips
Arriving by train
On the evening of 14 August the streets in the centre are closed or jammed and car parks fill up early. The train is the easiest option: Lavagna station is a few minutes’ walk from the festival squares. In 2026 Trenitalia and the Liguria Region are running a vintage train leaving Genoa Brignole at 6.57pm and arriving in Lavagna at 8.06pm, stopping at Nervi, Recco, Camogli, Santa Margherita, Rapallo and Chiavari; the return leaves Lavagna at 12.31am and reaches Genoa Brignole at 1.40am. Only special-fare tickets are valid: check on Trenitalia. Regular trains also run along the line if you are staying in Sestri Levante or Rapallo.
Where to stand and what to bring
To watch the procession, pick a spot along Via Roma or around Piazza della Libertà and arrive at least an hour early.
Buy your game ticket as soon as you arrive, so you have more time to find your match.
Bring water and comfortable shoes: you will be standing in a crowd for hours.
With young children, agree on a meeting point: the square gets very full.
Staying in Lavagna for the festival
During the Ferragosto week, Lavagna, Chiavari and Sestri Levante are fully booked. Reserve months ahead, or stay further along the railway line and come in by train.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Torta dei Fieschi
When is the Torta dei Fieschi?
Every year on the evening of 14 August. In 2026 it falls on a Friday.
How much does it cost to take part?
The procession and festival are free. For the game you need a ticket: in 2025 it cost €2.50.
Do I really need to find another person to get cake?
Yes, that is the rule: cake goes to pairs with the same word on their tickets. It doesn’t have to be your partner: anyone with your word will do.
Who were Opizzo Fieschi and Bianca de' Bianchi?
A count of the Fieschi family, lords of Lavagna in the Middle Ages, and a noblewoman from Siena. The festival re-enacts their wedding.
Is there a special train for the festival?
In 2026, yes: a vintage train from Genoa Brignole to Lavagna on 14 August and a late-night return, with special-fare tickets.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Lavagna
All places to stay in Lavagna on Booking: compare prices and availability.
