Nationally renowned fair where you can taste and sample the well-known Fossa cheese from Sogliano al Rubicone, which was awarded the DOP mark in 2009. The traditional opening of the pits takes place on November 25 each year, St. Catherine of Alexandria Day. In ancient times, this was a very heartfelt feast day for the population of Sogliano al Rubicone, mostly belonging to the peasant class. Each year, after the autumn fruit harvest and planting were finished, and the rituals of winemaking and olive pressing were concluded, farmers prepared for the winter suspension of field work. On St. Catherine’s Day, farmers would come to the village to collect the little cheese entrusted to the pits during the summer to meet the hardships of winter.

In memory of this tradition, the Fossa Cheese Fair was born in 1974 on the initiative of the Pro Loco of Sogliano al Rubicone and a few volunteers. Every year since then, the town of Sogliano al Rubicone has hosted the event on the last two Sundays in November and the first Sunday in December.

During the three days, the Fair is enriched by numerous side events: exhibitions of various kinds, theater performances, conferences, recreational moments, children’s activities, and musical performances along the downtown streets.

Very interesting are the permanent exhibitions in the Palazzo della Cultura and the guided tours, which starting from the Tourist Office allow visitors to learn about the beauty of the town and the typical pits.
Along the streets it is possible to taste and buy not only the Formaggio di Fossa di Sogliano al Rubicone Dop cheese, but also other typical products of the Sogliano area: savor, saba, honey, cold cuts, and finally the clay pans of Montetiffi (ideal for cooking piadina). In addition to typical local products, there are agro-gastronomic excellences from all over Italy.