Bomarzo Porcini Mushroom Festival

A festival dedicated to the king of the woods

Every year, towards the end of August, the town of Bomarzo, located in the province of Viterbo in the heart of the Lazio Tuscia region, hosts the Porcini Mushroom Festival. The event takes place at the Parco delle Stelle in the Pinetti area, a green space nestled in nature that offers a cool, pleasant climate during late summer evenings. The porcini mushroom is the star of the show, taking center stage on the menus and serving as a symbol of the woods surrounding the village.

Forest cuisine

Food stalls, run by local culinary groups, typically open in the evening and offer classic dishes from the rural traditions of Tuscia, revisited with a focus on porcini mushrooms. Typical dishes found at the festival include:

• Mixed appetizers and porcini mushroom bruschetta;
• Porcini mushroom carpaccio with arugula and Grana cheese;
• Fettuccine with porcini mushrooms, the festival's signature dish;
• Pork loin and sliced beef with porcini mushrooms;
• Grilled sausages and mixed roasts;
• Fried porcini mushrooms and roasted porcini with potatoes;
• Side dishes, mixed salads, and homemade desserts.

The bold flavors of the porcini, with their earthy aromas and simple preparation, tell the story of a region where mushroom foraging remains a deeply felt and widely practiced autumn ritual.

Music and late-summer atmosphere

The Porcini Mushroom Festival is about more than just food: the evenings are brought to life by live music and a convivial atmosphere that draws families and visitors from neighboring towns. Considered by many to be the last great summer celebration in Bomarzo, the event combines outdoor dining, entertainment, and the tranquility of the Parco delle Stelle, far from the heat of the town centers.

Discovering Bomarzo and Tuscia

The festival is also an excellent opportunity to explore Bomarzo, world-renowned for the Sacro Bosco (Sacred Wood), the 16th-century 'Monster Park' commissioned by Vicino Orsini with its enigmatic sculptures. The village, perched among the ravines and woods of the Viterbo province, is part of an itinerary rich in nature, Etruscan history, and small towns in northern Lazio, where local food and wine remain one of the most authentic draws.

A popular event

A free-entry event with deep local roots, the Bomarzo Porcini Mushroom Festival is a classic end-of-summer staple in Tuscia: a simple, genuine event accessible to everyone, where the pleasure of good food meets the region's popular traditions.