Blackberry Festival (Guadagnolo)

The Guadagnolo Blackberry Festival

The Blackberry Festival is the end-of-summer event that brings Guadagnolo to life. This small hamlet of Capranica Prenestina, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome, lies in the heart of the Lazio region. At over 1,200 meters above sea level, Guadagnolo is the highest inhabited center in the region: a natural balcony overlooking the Prenestini Mountains, where the view stretches as far as the Aniene Valley and, on clear days, toward Rome and the sea. Every year, typically on the third weekend of September, the community gathers in Piazza Dante Alighieri to celebrate the fruit that symbolizes its autumn: the wild blackberry.

A fruit, a community tradition

The blackberries of the Prenestini Mountains grow wild along the trails and forest edges. Hand-picked by the residents and transformed using ancient homemade recipes, they become the heart of the festival. At the stalls set up by the Pro Loco of Guadagnolo, you will find jams and preserves, tarts, cookies, classic mountain ricotta served with blackberry jam, and even "Moregnolo", the artisanal liqueur made from forest berries that the locals prepare with pride. These are authentic gastronomic souvenirs that tell the story of the deep bond between this village and its land.

Music, conviviality, and panoramic views

The festival combines taste with cheer. On Saturday afternoon, the square opens with food stalls, offering snacks and sandwiches while awaiting the evening concert that brings live music to the stone houses of the village. On Sunday morning, Guadagnolo fills with visitors: the food stalls take center stage, while the afternoon concludes with the unmissable tombola and a raffle, a moment of gathering for the entire community.

A village to discover

The Blackberry Festival is also the perfect opportunity to explore one of the most evocative corners of Lazio. A short walk from Guadagnolo stands the Santuario della Mentorella, one of the oldest Marian shrines in Italy, nestled among the rocks of the Prenestini Mountains. Capranica Prenestina, with its medieval historic center, has been included among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy: another reason to combine the festival with a walk through nature, history, and tradition. The event, which has free admission, is an invitation to slow down and rediscover the authenticity of the Lazio mountains.