Eurochocolate Festival – Perugia, Italy 2025

Background & History

The Eurochocolate Festival, held annually in Perugia since 1993, is Europe’s largest chocolate festival, attracting around 900,000 visitors each year. Founded to celebrate chocolate as both a culinary delight and an art form, it showcases Perugia’s rich chocolate-making tradition, notably through Perugina, famous for Baci chocolates. The festival has grown into a global event, featuring massive chocolate sculptures (like a 7,000 kg Colosseum replica), workshops, and cultural performances, blending Italian heritage with modern creativity. Set in Perugia’s UNESCO-recognized historic center, it highlights Umbria’s gastronomic and cultural legacy.

Event Highlights

• Chocolate Show: The festival’s core, a massive marketplace in Piazza IV Novembre and Corso Vannucci, featuring over 130 chocolatiers with 6,000+ products, from artisan pralines to exotic flavors like chili-infused chocolate. Visitors can meet producers and sample unique creations.
• Chocolate Sculptures: Marvel at giant installations, such as the iconic “chocolate mouths” from Costruttori di Dolcezze, created live on the first Sunday in Corso Vannucci. Past sculptures include a chocolate Fontana Maggiore.
• Choco Lab Workshops: Interactive sessions at Piazza della Repubblica, led by master chocolatiers, teaching techniques like tempering and molding. Includes show cooking and tastings (~$10–$30 USD).
• Choco Experience: Educational exhibits on cocoa’s journey from bean to bar, focusing on sustainability and fair trade, with insights into cultivation in countries like Ghana and Ecuador.
• Eurochocolate World: Showcases cocoa-producing countries (e.g., Colombia, Ivory Coast) with tastings and cultural performances highlighting global cocoa diversity.
• Choco Funny: Family-friendly activities, including children’s workshops to design chocolate figures and interactive games, held in Piazza Italia.
• Live Music and Street Performers: Enjoy jazz, funk, and the OverSoul Street Band across Perugia’s squares, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
• ChocoTram: A shuttle between main piazzas, offering scenic rides through Perugia’s historic center (~$2–$5 USD).
• ChocoCard: A pass (~$5–$10 USD) offering discounts, free samples, and exclusive access to tastings and events.

Date & Duration

Dates: November 14–23, 2025
Duration: 10 days, daily from 8:00 AM–8:00 PM (some events extend later, e.g., live music until 10:00 PM).
Theme: “La Festa tra le Nuvole” (The Party Among the Clouds), featuring dreamy chocolate cloud installations and a cotton candy-cocoa fusion experience.

Venue / Location

Main Address: Centro Storico, 06121 Perugia (PG), Italy. Key venues include:

• Piazza IV Novembre: Chocolate Show, sculptures, and main stage events, near the Duomo di San Lorenzo and Fontana Maggiore.
• Corso Vannucci: Chocolate sculptures and vendor stalls.
• Piazza Italia, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Mazzini: Workshops, tastings, and performances.
• Mercato Coperto Terrace: Additional vendor space and tastings.
  City and Region: Perugia, Umbria, Italy
  Note: The festival spans Perugia’s historic center, with events accessible by foot. The operational headquarters (Via Madonna del Capezzale, 13, Bastia Umbra) is for organizers, not visitors.

Contact Information

Email: info@eurochocolate.com (general inquiries), amministrazione@eurochocolate.com (administrative)
Phone: +39 075 5003848, WhatsApp: +39 353 3056955 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM)
Address:

• Operational Headquarters: Via Madonna del Capezzale, 13, 06083 Bastia Umbra (PG), Italy
• Registered Office: Via Ruggero D’Andreotto 19/E, 06124 Perugia (PG), Italy
  Website: eurochocolate.com
  Social Media: eurochocolate (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

Ticket Information

• Admission: Free to enter the festival’s outdoor areas (Piazza IV Novembre, Corso Vannucci, etc.).
• ChocoCard: ~$5–$10 USD (5–9 EUR), provides free samples, discounts at restaurants/shops, and priority access to workshops. Available online at eurochocolate.com or on-site at information booths.
• Workshops and Tastings: ~$10–$30 USD (9–27 EUR), depending on session (e.g., Choco Lab, Eurochocolate World tastings). Reservations recommended via eurochocolate.com.
• ChocoTram: ~$2–$5 USD (2–5 EUR), tickets at Piazza Italia or Corso Vannucci booths.
• Special Experiences: Guided chocolate tours or premium tastings (~$20–$50 USD, 18–46 EUR) can be booked through local partners like Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero (+39 0173 35833, info@visitlmr.it).
• Sales Channels: Free entry requires no ticket, but ChocoCard and event-specific tickets are available online (from September 2025) or at booths in Piazza IV Novembre and Piazza della Repubblica. QR codes or printed tickets accepted.
• Notes: Prices for paid experiences are estimates based on past editions; confirm via eurochocolate.com closer to the event. No refunds for ticketed events. Group rates for 20+ available; contact info@eurochocolate.com.

Cultural Experience

Set against Perugia’s medieval backdrop, Eurochocolate blends Umbrian tradition with modern chocolate artistry. The historic center, with landmarks like the Duomo di San Lorenzo and Fontana Maggiore, hosts chocolate installations that merge art and cuisine. The “La Festa tra le Nuvole” theme for 2025 introduces whimsical cloud-inspired displays, including cocoa-dusted cotton candy and chocolate clouds by Costruttori di Dolcezze. Cultural performances, from flag-waving to jazz, reflect Umbria’s heritage, while the Choco Experience educates on cocoa’s global impact, emphasizing sustainability and fair trade. The festival’s vibrant atmosphere, with street artists and live music, creates an immersive celebration for all ages.

Food & Drinks

• Must-Try Specialties: Sample artisan chocolates (pralines, truffles, $2–$10 USD), gianduia spreads ($5–$15 USD), and hot chocolate ($3–$7 USD). Exotic flavors include chili, lavender, or sea salt-infused bars. Local Umbrian specialties like porchetta sandwiches ($5–$10 USD) and Perugia’s Baci chocolates ($1–$3 USD each) are available at stalls.
• Festival Dining: The Chocolate Show offers free tastings, while Choco Lab workshops include dishes like chocolate-drizzled desserts ($10–$20 USD). Nearby restaurants, such as Osteria a Priori (Via dei Priori 39, $15–$40 USD per dish), serve chocolate-infused Umbrian cuisine. Local wines like Sagrantino ($5–$10 USD per glass) complement meals.
• Vegan/Gluten-Free Options: Limited vegan options (e.g., dark chocolate or sorbet-based products) are available; check with vendors. Gluten-free chocolates are offered by select artisans, but availability varies.

Family & Accessibility

• Family-Friendly: Choco Funny offers free workshops for kids (e.g., decorating chocolate figures) in Piazza Italia. Open-air performances like the OverSoul Street Band are family-oriented. Child-friendly ChocoCard (~$5 USD) includes kid-sized samples.
• Accessibility: Perugia’s historic center is partially accessible, with flat areas in Piazza IV Novembre and Piazza della Repubblica. Cobblestone streets may pose challenges; ChocoTram provides accessible transport. Contact info@eurochocolate.com for specific accommodations. Most venues have wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

Getting There

• By Air: Perugia San Francesco d’Assisi Airport (PEG), 12 km from the city center, serves limited European flights. Taxis (~$20–$30 USD, 15 minutes) or buses (~$2–$5 USD, 20 minutes) reach the historic center. Rome Fiumicino (FCO), 170 km away, offers more flights (train/bus, $15–$30 USD, 2.5–3 hours).
• Public Transport: From Perugia Fontivegge station, take the Minimetrò to Pincetto (5 minutes, ~$1.50 USD) for direct access to Piazza IV Novembre. Buses (e.g., line A, ~$1.50 USD) connect to Piazza Italia. Free transport passes with hotel bookings cover local buses and Minimetrò.
• Parking: Available at Piazza Partigiani or Pian di Massiano (~$1–$2 USD/hour), with Minimetrò access to the center. Limited spaces during peak days; book early via eurochocolate.com.
• Traffic Restrictions: Corso Vannucci and Piazza IV Novembre may have pedestrian-only zones during festival hours. Check eurochocolate.com for updates.

Additional Services

• Information Booths: Located at Piazza IV Novembre and Piazza Italia, providing maps, schedules, and ChocoCard sales.
• Merchandise: Festival-branded chocolates, mugs, and T-shirts ($5–$20 USD) sold at the Chocolate Show. Choco Cloud-themed products (e.g., cotton candy kits, $10–$15 USD) available in 2025.
• Guided Tours: Book chocolate factory tours (e.g., Perugina ChocoMuseum, free during festival) or Umbrian city tours via Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero (+39 0173 35833, info@visitlmr.it, ~$20–$50 USD).
• Sustainability: Eurochocolate emphasizes eco-friendly practices, promoting fair trade cocoa and recyclable packaging.