Torremolinos bullring is turning into an Italian piazza this August and there’s a trip to Rome up for grabs

Torremolinos has a treat waiting for anyone craving a taste of Italy without booking a flight, “Buon appetito”, as locals would say.

Trevi fountain or Torremolinos

Plaza de Toros de Torremolinos will swap bulls for bruschetta on August 27 and 28, when Little Italy Gastro Fest transforms the historic ring into a bustling Mediterranean piazza. Doors open from 7pm on both evenings and festivities run until close, giving visitors two full nights to soak up cocktails, live music and proper Italian cooking. Organisers GastronÓmico and Locamente are behind this exciting debut edition.

Nonnas build the menu

Food is the heart and soul of the event, and it comes courtesy of “la Nonna”, the festival’s hostess and self-appointed guardian of everyone’s appetite. Fresh pasta arrives in several formats with homemade sauces, paninis built on artisan focaccia and boards of Italian cheese and cured meats. Pizza al taglio, cut to order with rotating toppings, uses proper dough and imported Italian ingredients rather than anything mass-produced. A dedicated sweet corner, Dolce Italia, serves tiramisu, Sicilian cannoli and artisan Italian ice cream for anyone with room left after two courses. As any nonna worth her salt would insist: mangia, mangia!

Music, cocktails and a show worth staying for

Cocktails get their time to shine. El Aperitivo de Hugo pours Aperol Spritz, Campari, Italian vermouth and seasonal creations, marking the point where organisers say the evening “really begins”, or, as it might be put on the piazza, quando inizia la festa vera. Live Italian jazz sets the tone early on, before a show from Pink Chadora and her dancers brings comedy and energy to proceedings. Once the performance wraps, a DJ set carries the party on into the night, keeping glasses topped up and feet moving.

How can I attend this Italian event

Entry starts from €6, with free access for children under 12. Under-16s can attend accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult, provided they carry a signed parental authorisation form, available to download from the festival website. Those aged 16 and over may enter without an adult but still need that signed form plus valid ID on request. Given capacity restrictions, early-bird tickets have reportedly been moving fast, so booking ahead is worth considering, nobody wants to be left outside while everyone else tucks into their tiramisu.

How to win a trip to Rome

Every ticket purchased doubles as an entry into a prize draw for a trip to Rome for two, adding an extra incentive beyond the food and music. Between the slurping of the pasta, the feel of the piazza and the possibility of an Italian getaway, this is an event that you should let pass you by.