Baccalà Festival

A festival dedicated to the king of peasant cuisine

The Baccalà Festival is the gastronomic event that brings the historic center of Bomarzo to life every summer, a small village in the province of Viterbo, in the heart of the Lazio Tuscia. Created to celebrate one of the iconic ingredients of the local popular cuisine, the festival is organized by the Associazione Valori Bomarzo and in 2026 reaches its 14th edition, confirming its status as one of the benchmark food and wine events of the Viterbo summer.

Salt cod in all its forms

The absolute star is baccalà (salt cod), the preserved fish that the Tuscia tradition has managed to reinterpret in an infinite number of recipes. At the festival stalls, you can enjoy appetizers based on salt cod, including traditional panzanella, fried and grilled fillets, pasta dishes with salt cod sauces, and the famous stewed with chickpeas preparation. There is no shortage of sweet and sour versions and, surprisingly, even a delicious sweet option like the salt cod cream tart. A journey of taste that tells the story and culinary identity of the village.

Music, dancing, and summer evenings

Every evening of the festival is accompanied by live music: orchestras and dance groups take turns on stage to animate the town squares, with evenings dedicated to ballroom dancing, popular music, and Latin American music events. The food stalls generally open at 7:00 PM and the party continues until late at night, in an atmosphere of joy and conviviality that involves residents and visitors from all over Lazio and nearby Umbria.

Bomarzo, the village of the Monsters

Experiencing the festival is also an opportunity to discover Bomarzo, world-famous for its Sacro Bosco, better known as the Park of the Monsters, the fantastic 16th-century garden commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini and populated by colossal sculptures and enigmatic figures. The medieval historic center, with its alleys and squares, provides the ideal backdrop for a festival that combines gastronomic tradition, culture, and hospitality in one of the most evocative villages of the Lazio Region.

An event for the whole family

The Bomarzo Baccalà Festival is an event designed for everyone: families, groups of friends, and good food enthusiasts will find the perfect occasion here for an evening outdoors among authentic flavors and fun. Admission is free and food and drinks are paid for directly at the stalls, with menus ranging from appetizers to desserts at affordable prices.