The root behind Rapunzel

THE STORY ↓
WHERE TO EAT↓

About

Before Rapunzel had hair, she was a vegetable.

THE STORY

Rapunzel was named after a vegetable. The plant is Campanula rapunculus, called rampion in English and raperonzolo in Italian. It was once grown widely across Europe for its tender leaves and long white root, but gradually disappeared from everyday cooking as other vegetables, including the potato, became more common. The Oxford Companion to Food notes that many English speakers now know the plant mainly because of the Brothers Grimm story, in which Rapunzel’s mother craves it from a neighbour’s garden.

In Villaga, in the southern part of the Vicenza province, people still call it ranpussolo. It grows during the coldest months along country lanes, hedges and uncultivated ground, although it is also cultivated. Both the young leaves and the white root are eaten. The root is crisp and slightly sweet, with a flavour traditionally compared locally to walnuts and hazelnuts. Villaga registered the plant as a De.Co. local heritage food in 2012.

The simplest preparation needs very little intervention: leaves and cleaned roots served as a winter salad. One of the classic Vicenza combinations adds hot lard and vinegar, often beside grilled local salami. Restaurants around Villaga now use ranpussolo in risotto, fresh pasta, sauces, polenta dishes and meat courses.

January and February are the months to look for it. The annual Ranpussolo e dintorni programme brings together restaurants across Villaga and the neighbouring Berici Hills, with the ingredient kept on their menus for several weeks rather than appearing for a single festival day. In 2026, five restaurants took part.

Villaga and the Colli Berici

Villaga belongs to the Colli Berici, the low limestone hills south of Vicenza, an area of vineyards, olive trees, caves and small agricultural villages. At Toara, one of Villaga’s hamlets, vineyards produce Colli Berici DOC wines including Tai Rosso, the local red grape traditionally associated with these hills.

Above Pozzolo, the small church of San Donato is all that remains of a hermitage documented from 1243. It was established beside natural caves and a spring, later becoming a Benedictine convent. Walking routes connect the caves, vineyards and villages around this part of the Berici Hills.

WHERE TO EAT RANPUSSOLO DI VILLAGA

The 2026 Ranpussolo e dintorni programme confirmed these five restaurants, with ranpussolo kept on their menus through January and February.

FOR THE CLASSIC BERICI TRATTORIA

Trattoria Berica

Via Alessandro Manzoni 86, Pozzolo di Villaga, Vicenza
Phone +39 0444 868391

A traditional Colli Berici restaurant with seasonal cooking. Its current restaurant profile specifically lists risotto with raperonzolo among the local dishes, alongside Berici truffles, game and the spring peas of Pozzolo.

FOR LOCAL COOKING AND A WIDER RANPUSSOLO MENU

Trattoria Sabrina

Via Giuseppe Verdi 10, Villaga, Vicenza
Phone +39 0444 886030
Mobile +39 328 8266375

Traditional Vicenza cooking, with ranpussolo explicitly listed among its local specialities. Other ingredients include the peas of Pozzolo, spring herbs and lamb and goat from its own production.

FOR A FARM DINNER

Agriturismo Belvedere

Via Croce Nera 15, Villaga, Vicenza
Phone +39 0444 886546

A farm restaurant in the Villaga countryside. It took part in the 2026 programme and hosted one of the two evenings devoted to an entire ranpussolo tasting menu.

FOR A MORE POLISHED DINNER

Ristorante Ai Canonici

Piazza Roma 34/36, Barbarano Mossano, Vicenza
Phone +39 334 9753997

A small, more refined restaurant in the historic centre of Barbarano Mossano. It joined the 2026 programme and hosted a complete ranpussolo dinner on 16 January. Its regular cooking combines Vicenza ingredients with a more contemporary presentation.

FOR PIZZA AND SOMETHING MORE INFORMAL

Pizzeria Ca' Martina

Via Croce 18, Zovencedo, Vicenza
Phone +39 0444 893177

A pizzeria using seasonal ingredients from the Colli Berici. It was one of the five 2026 participants keeping ranpussolo available during the winter programme.