ZIGANTE
TRUFFLE DAY

In the very heart of Istria, in the valley of the Mirna River, at the foot of Motovun, lies the Motovun Forest, a rich forest area that hides one of the most precious fruits of the country – the truffle.

Zigante Truffle Days are held every fall in Livade. It is a unique event that attracts many local and international guests, who travel from all over the world to taste this superb gourmet specialty and other exceptional Istrian delicacies.

This event puts the small town of Livade on the map as the capital of the Istrian truffle. The rich and carefully assembled program of Zigante Truffle Days includes the truffle fair, an international exhibition of wines and other authentic Istrian products (such as Istrian prosciutto, sausages, cheese, honey, olive oil, brandy…), culinary workshops, truffle hunting demonstrations in the Forest, and various tastings of truffle-based specialties created and presented by renowned chefs.

WHITE TRUFFLE FAIR

For the duration of the fair, Livade and the Motovun Forest turn into a place that allows an immersion into a fragrant and suggestive atmosphere. With everything in Livade being uniquely tied to the truffle, the Zigante Truffle Days have become a very special and unrepeatable event that celebrates and elevates the Istrian truffle to the pedestal of excellence.

You can encounter truffle hunters exchanging opinions and experiences, numerous guests who came in search of truffles, distinguished chefs, bloggers/travel writers, truffle lovers, gastronomic experts, gastronomes promoting truffles and their unique attributes, and various profiles of interested guests, starting with statesmen, politicians, artists, cultural workers, public figures, etc. More than fifty exhibitors present their products in the big tent, including winemakers, olive growers, producers of prosciutto, cheese, honey, and other authentic Istrian products.
The fair regularly includes a rich offer of wines and food that attracts numerous guests – around 50,000 people yearly – arriving from Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Austria, and from faraway places such as Japan, China, and the countries of North America. These loyal guests have been coming for years now to taste the unique quality of the white Istrian truffle at the height of its season. The guests are free to take walks, sightsee and admire the beauty of the area, taste top local products, and witness the exciting moment of finding a truffle.

The fair offers a wide range of white and black truffles found directly in their natural habitat – the forest. Esteemed chefs turn this precious tuber into superb dishes that capture the attention of gourmets with their specific intoxicating taste. The white truffle fair in Livade is the largest Croatian and regional truffle exhibition. Every weekend, freshly found truffles are displayed and sold to truffle afficionados.

But how to choose a truffle? How to make the most of it? How to store / preserve it? How best to eat it? Our top chefs and hostesses at the fair are there to help you discover the aromatic secrets of this precious mushroom. The fair is a place to meet likeminded people and exchange experiences. It is a place where you can taste the flavors of Istria.
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THE ZIGANTE FAMILY

Behind Zigante Truffle Days stands the Zigante family – a name known for making Istrian truffles recognizable all over the world. The Zigante family is dedicated to the commercialization of the Istrian truffle with the aim of achieving its recognition and competitiveness on the European market.

Thanks to the Zigante family, Livade has become a prominent center of the world of truffles.

Zigante Truffle Days – held every autumn in Livade – allow you to experience the truffle’s natural habitat, the Motovun Forest. The event joins the specialized Zigante Truffle Shop and the Zigante Restaurant in celebrating truffle year around. Since everything in Livade is richly unique and connected to the truffle, the Zigante Truffle Days are a special and one-of-a-kind event that places the Istrian truffle on the pedestal of excellence. For the duration of the event, the small village of Livade turns into a large truffle market.