Although the idea of the festival emerged in 1982, Perugia has always been a city familiar with chocolate, from its production to its sale. And the history of this coexistence goes back to ancient times. Founded in 1907, the Perugina company began processing cocoa eight years later. Then it turned into one of the internationally renowned companies producing chocolate and its derivatives. Today, I suggest you breathe in the smell of chocolate coming from the patisseries while walking along Corso Vannucci, especially on warm spring days. Your mouth will start to water with the smell and you will enjoy the melting chocolate. We can also call it the triumph of childhood joy, memories and pleasure… Because these are the same, timeless and limitless fragrances that always circulate around us… That’s why since 1984, in the city of Umbria, it has emerged in the memories of millions of people who participated in the successive editions of Eurochocolate. probably the same memories. Maybe that’s why that young boy’s dream came true. As it usually is, the dream revived there did not die out. Twelve years later the first Eurochocolate light filtered from this embryonic project. Since then, every year in October, the city of Perugia has stood out on the world stage not only with its Etruscan and medieval beauty, its cross-cultural vitality, but also with the sweetest and most affectionate scents of childhood memories. The city, with all its squares, small spaces between side streets, colorful patisseries where lovely people work, chocolate-covered pastry products exhibited in the most beautiful buildings, and real masterpieces of art is overflowing. At every point, at every corner, at every crossroads, art meets art. Palaces are decorated with excitement as if they want to show themselves in the best way to those who do not know themselves yet. An air of blissful joy surrounds the inhabitants and visitors of the city. It becomes commonplace to encounter people wandering around with excited glances. Children, teenagers, adults, grandparents, and grandparents come together at countless events these days to have fun, entertain, taste, promote and explore the arts.

As a result, Eurochocolate has turned into an important event since its first year. It has become one of the most anticipated moments on the Italian cultural scene, with internationally renowned pastry chefs such as Iginio Massari also participating. The pandemic had come to put an end to this cloud of magic, history, joy and memory. But he was only able to slow it down! The 27th edition of the festival was successfully completed under security measures. However, due to the pandemic, almost all of the events were held at the Umbriafiere exhibition center in Bastia Umbra. Not every corner, every street and avenue of Perugia’s historic center has managed to participate actively in this moment of rebirth: in the centre, in Piazza della Repubblica, a path has been laid out among the excellence of Umbrian chocolate. Patisseries opened their doors to those who want to enjoy the magical atmosphere that reigns in a city full of little happiness and beauty, and to those who are waiting to come back to pour their heart out from its side streets and squares. The reunion was magnificent as always… Perugia filled thousands of chocolates with joy sauce and scattered them as stars in the sky… See you next year…