Two days of strong turnout at Borgo Maggiore for the 32nd edition. From the conference, one rule above all: never eat a mushroom based on a guess.
The 32nd Mycological Exhibition of the Titano has drawn to a close with impressive numbers. Organised by the San Marino Mycological Association, the event was hosted for two full days at the historic Logge di Borgo Maggiore.
Over 200 species of mushrooms were displayed on the tables, all gathered from San Marino’s territory and identified by the association’s experts alongside mycologists Gianrico Vasquez and Oscar Tani. As in previous years, the Gruppo Erbe Cesena also contributed to the richness of the display.
Large crowds filled the exhibition tables and food stands, where volunteers worked non-stop serving mushroom-based dishes.
The awards
On Sunday afternoon, the jury handed out the traditional prizes. The award for “Biggest mushroom” went to Alfredo Valentini for an extraordinary specimen of Boletus aereus, the black porcino. The “Rarest mushroom” prize was won by Giorgio Giusti for his Leucocoprinus cretaceus.
The rule that matters most
Saturday afternoon’s public conference in the Sala della Giunta di Castello drew a large audience. Led by professor Gianrico Vasquez, a biologist and mycologist from Catania, the talk was titled “Shadows and light of the undergrowth: biology and dangers of the fungal kingdom.”
The discussion focused on the subtle visual differences between species that look almost identical but have opposite properties, where an edible mushroom can easily be mistaken for a poisonous or toxic one.
This led Vasquez to reaffirm the golden rule of caution: never eat mushrooms based on uncertainty or assumption, but always have your haul checked and verified by mycological centres and association experts before bringing it to the table.
Institutions and guests
The event opened on Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Secretary of State for Territory and Environment, Agriculture, Civil Protection and Relations with A.A.S.L.P., Matteo Ciacci, together with the association’s president Sante Vagnetti.
Also present at the opening were the Captain Regent of Borgo Maggiore Castle, Matteo Sartini, and the director of the U.G.R.A.A., engineer Giuliana Barulli, alongside the Ecological Guards.
Among the side events was a guided walk through the historic centre organised by ASD San Marino Nordic Walking Sport & Fun. On Sunday, the exhibition also welcomed a visit from journalist and television presenter Osvaldo Bevilacqua, accompanied by his wife Sandra, who was guided among the stands by professor Vasquez and members of the association.
