Festivals

The Quintana Knightly Tournament is a challenge in which a knight must hit a target with his spear. Six knights participate in representing the districts of the city.

In this joust each rider must make three consecutive attempts which are repeated three times. If the Palio is won, a canvas painting created every year by a famous artist is given as a prize to the winner.

The tournaments (jousting) were typical of the Middle Ages and were used to train the cavalry in the art of war. They were very popular during 1200-1300 and the Giostra della Quintana is reported in the Municipal Statutes of 1377.

The events take place over a period of almost two months in the summer with numerous events such as the Palio of the Flag – wavers in July, a competition of 5 specialties fought between the flag-wavers of the city and which takes place in the magnificent Piazza Arringo. An incredible game of colors and sounds capable of thrilling every spectator.

Flags fly in the summer sky like colorful butterflies to the music of the drums. The skill of the musicians is so high that they have also been involved in modern arrangements and have participated in national television shows.

The two editions of the Historical Parade and the Giostra della Quintana take place in July and August. The historical procession is one of the largest in Italy with 1500 “actors” wearing sumptuous costumes from the 1400s. The procession is accompanied by ladies, knights, bridesmaids, armigers, archers, musicians and flag-wavers. There are also representatives of the 9 Castles of Ascoli Piceno.

The playing field is set up inside the football stadium.

The tradition of St Martin in Piglio has been celebrated for years, at the beginning at the Massimi palace in the center of the town and in recent years at the lower castle of Piglio and in the square.

Freshly made wines are presented for a forecast of the year - remember that the wine must rest in cask or in bottle for many months before being put on the market for the consumer. During the festival the new producers of the famous Cesanese del Piglio DOCG wine are also presented.

An opportunity to discover the village of Piglio and one of the historic Massimi House that has one of the most beautiful collections of ancient wallpaper.

On the second Sunday of November, in Vallerotonda new wine is celebrated on the occasion of the San Martino festival when 'every must becomes wine'.

An opportunity to discover the center of this Ciociarian village by combining history and gastronomy. Musical groups will brighten the day.

During the month of November, the famous Ciavattone bean festival takes place in Vallepietra, which celebrates this iconic product which has also become a Slow Food presidium.

The bean is harvested in autumn and then left to dry in ventilated rooms to be kept throughout the winter.

During the festival it is possible to taste it in salads but also in soups such as the traditional 'sagna and beans' and with 'scacchiato', a bread that is engraved on the bottom before being cooked.

In addition to the beans, you can taste the famous Vallepietra potatoes which owe their scent to the soils and climates of the Monti Simbruini mountains.

The cuckolds' feast and the rola festival

In Rocca Canterano, on the Sunday closest to November 11th, the feast of Saint Martin, the patron saint of cuckolds, is celebrated in a truly original way by combining food and wine and light-heartedness: the cuckolds' feast and the rola festival.

It all stems from the tradition of tasting the new wine with chestnuts and celebrating this day with a party, so they chose to celebrate the local chestnut, called Rola, and the 'cuckolds'. In the dialect, cuckolds are those people who have been betrayed by their partner and who are generally not used to self-irony.

Every year the 'cuckold of the year' is elected who is carried in procession on a throne and who is made to wear gigantic horns. The procession passes through the streets of the town with the symbols of betrayal and at the same time the people 'drown' their sorrows in a glass of new wine.

Music and other typical local products complete the weekend.

After thirty years, the Festival of the Mostarda and Prickly Pear (Sagra della Mostrada and Ficodindia) in Militello in Val di Catania is an unmissable event that generally takes place the second weekend of October.

A mustard-based festival

The historic center of Militello is invaded by the scent of mustard, which emanates from the stands along Via Porta della Terra and the Atrium of the Castle.

Here you can taste the Prickly Pear Mustard, still steaming from the large cauldrons (i caddarùna) in traditional glazed terracotta tiles.

Numerous recreational events and guided visits to churches and cultural sites and, on the last day, the parade of traditional Sicilian carts, are offered by the Militello Pro Loco to the thousands of visitors who came to discover Militello.

In addition to tasting hot mustard, you can taste all the other products of the gastronomy of Militello in Val di Catania, such as cassatiddini, ‘nfasciatiddi, mastrazzola, whose main ingredients are generally almonds, vin cotto and prickly pears.

In Vitorchiano, a village in the Province of Viterbo, one of the most popular types of traditional pasta, the Cavatello Vitorchianese, is celebrated with a festival.

Different in shape compared to the Apulian / Molisana counterpart, the cavatelli of Vitorchiano are a poor dish of the tradition of this village, they are still prepared today on festive occasions by local housewives.

The dough is simple, water and flour, and once kneaded and left to rest, it is cut into spaghetti-like strips, and stretched at the ends. This operation gives it the appearance of a rustic "spaghetti".

They are traditionally seasoned with a sauce of wild fennel flowers, which are fried in oil to flavor it, finally adding the tomato puree.

A relaxing weekend in one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscia, to savor a typical dish that tastes of tradition, immersing yourself in fun and happiness.

The medieval district of San Pellegrino returns in 1200 with one of the most anticipated events of the Viterbo summer.

LUDIKA 1243 is an event that reconstructs the history of this fascinating period with a weekend of games, cultural activities and themed shows that involve all the curious from simple visitors to protagonists thanks to the performances of the artists participating in this Street Theater Festival Medieval.

A weekend of fun to discover ancient traditions immersed in the charm of one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.