Each year in May, the festival of the violet artichoke of Sant’Erasmo, the “vegetable garden of Venice”: tastings, direct sales by growers and visits around the Torre Massimiliana.
The violet artichoke festival at Sant’Erasmo
Sant’Erasmo has been, since the 16th century, the great vegetable garden of the Venetian Lagoon. Its emblematic product is the carciofo violetto, an elongated, spiny artichoke with dark purple bracts, protected by a Slow Food Presidium. The Festa del Carciofo violetto celebrates it each spring around the Torre Massimiliana.
The festival brings together tastings (raw, sautéed, fried, in risotto or preserved in oil), direct sales by the island’s producers, cooking advice and field visits. In 2025, the 17th edition attracted around four thousand visitors. Entry is free.
Dates: the festival takes place on a Sunday in May, at the height of the harvest season (late April to early June). In 2026, it was held on 10 May, with a backup date on 17 May in case of bad weather. The 2027 dates had not yet been announced at the end of October 2026.
Getting there: Sant’Erasmo is served by vaporetto line 13 from Fondamente Nove; since departures are spaced out, check the timetable before you leave.
Sources and further information
Editions
Festa del Carciofo violetto 2026
10/05/2026
Sunday, May 10, 2026 at the Torre Massimiliana (postponed to May 17 in case of bad weather).