Beans, Pork Rind and Sausage Festival

A festival born from the village's most beloved dish

The Beans, Pork Rind and Sausage Festival is one of the newest gastronomic events on the calendar in Moricone, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome, nestled in the heart of the Roman Sabina at the gateway to the Lucretili Mountains Regional Natural Park. The inaugural edition took place in May 2025 in Piazza Sante Aureli, the village's main square, and immediately found a devoted following. It celebrates a popular, traditional dish that has always been a staple in local family kitchens and has now become the centerpiece of a collective celebration.

Beans with pork rind: a classic Lazio recipe

Fagioli con le cotiche (beans with pork rind) is a cornerstone of Lazio's 'cucina povera': beans slow-cooked with pork rinds, tomato, garlic, and bay leaves—a preparation born from the peasant tradition of wasting nothing. In Moricone, the dish is served in two variations—with pork rind or with sausage—allowing everyone to choose their favorite. It is a recipe that requires time and patience, cooked in large quantities by local volunteers for the festival.

The festival menu

The format follows the classic Lazio festival style: volunteer-run food stalls, table service in the square, generous portions, and budget-friendly prices. Previous editions have featured:

• Beans with pork rind or beans with sausage, the festival's signature dish;
• Penne all'arrabbiata, served on Sunday;
• French fries, bread, and water included in the menu;
• Spit-roasted meat, available as an alternative on the final day.

Reservations are recommended: the organizers provide a phone number to book tables, a solution that helps manage the evening crowds effectively at village festivals.

Music and village atmosphere

Beyond the food, there is plenty of live entertainment. During the inaugural edition, musical entertainment was provided by the Melodie Romane group, who accompanied the evening with a repertoire of Roman songs and folk music. This is the heart of such events: music under the square's lights, shared tables, and different generations sitting together. The event is organized by the Pro Loco Moricone APS in collaboration with the Associazione Giovani Moricone and supported by the municipal administration—a model of collaboration between historical volunteer groups and the younger generation that works well for other events in Moricone throughout the year.

Moricone and its calendar of festivities

Moricone has just over two thousand inhabitants and retains its medieval layout, dominated by a castle and surrounded by olive groves. The village boasts a rather busy calendar of events for its size: in addition to the bean festival, the year is marked by the Arrosticini Festival, celebrations for Blessed Bernardo Silvestrelli, Christmas events in the square, and various sports and family initiatives. The May festival serves as the opening moment of the warm season, when evenings become mild enough for outdoor dining.

Why it's worth a visit

If you are looking for a spectacular festival with big names and thousands of people, this isn't it. However, if you want to understand what Lazio's popular cuisine is really about—sitting at a plastic table in a village square with a steaming plate of beans in front of you—you will find exactly what you are looking for in Moricone. It is also a convenient getaway for those living in Rome: the village is just over forty kilometers from the capital, making it perfect for a half-day trip through the Sabina region, olive groves, and the Lucretili Mountains.