Caffarella Green Fest
A day of science, nature, and music in the green heart of Rome
About Caffarella Green Fest
An environmental festival in Rome's green lung
The Caffarella Green Fest takes place in Caffarella Park, one of the most evocative landscapes in the Municipality of Rome and the agricultural heart of the Appia Antica Regional Park, in the Lazio Region. Here, just a few kilometers from the historic center, a stretch of Roman countryside survives, made up of meadows, springs, streams, and ancient ruins: a setting that the festival uses as a natural classroom. The event's headquarters is the Casa del Parco "Casale Vigna Cardinali", accessible from Largo Tacchi Venturi.
Who organizes it
The event stems from the initiative of Progetto SEEDS, the youth section of the association Il Melograno Solidarietà Ambiente e Cultura APS: about forty young researchers and science communicators, many of whom trained at Sapienza University of Rome. The stated goal is to take scientific research out of the lecture halls and return it to the city in an accessible, free, and participatory form. The most recent edition was held under the patronage of Roma Capitale and the Appia Antica Regional Park, while the management of the Casa del Parco is entrusted to Humus E.T.S.
A different theme for every edition
Every year, the festival chooses a central theme that guides conferences, walks, and workshops. After the first edition in 2024 and the 2025 edition dedicated to Sea and Biodiversity, the third edition focused on wetlands, treasure chests of biodiversity: ponds, springs, and minor watercourses—fragile and often overlooked environments that play a decisive role for amphibians, birds, and insects, even in an urban context.
How the day is structured
The program is designed to be explored freely, without a mandatory order. Activities overlap from morning to evening and include:
- Outdoor yoga on the meadows of the Caffarella, to start the day calmly;
- Interdisciplinary guided excursions, with geological and naturalistic themed routes led by SEEDS researchers;
- Informative conferences with university professors, environmental associations, and authors of scientific publications;
- Workshops for children and families: creative recycling, animated readings, theatrical activities, naturalistic watercolor painting, and arthropod observation;
- Naturalistic quizzes with prizes, information points, and photo exhibitions;
- Scientific aperitif with live music to close the day.
Why it is worth a visit
The Caffarella Green Fest is a completely free event, suitable both for those looking for a day outdoors with the family and for those who want to hear researchers talk about ecology without academic filters. It is also a different way to discover the Caffarella: an area that Romans frequent for running or walking, but whose ecological and archaeological richness remains little known. Some limited-capacity activities, such as guided walks, require online booking via Eventbrite, while everything else is freely accessible.
A model of grassroots outreach
In a city where major cultural events are often institutional, the festival represents an interesting case of a self-managed, youth-led initiative. The formula—rigorous science told with lightness, combined with music, yoga, and hands-on workshops—has allowed the event to grow rapidly in just a few editions, becoming a highly anticipated spring appointment for the south-east quadrant of Rome.
Caffarella Green Fest — edition 2026
Third edition: wetlands
The 2026 edition of the Caffarella Green Fest focused on wetland environments—ponds, springs, and minor watercourses—as reservoirs of biodiversity that are often overlooked, even within an urban park like the Caffarella. The day, curated by the young researchers of Progetto SEEDS together with Il Melograno APS, alternated between listening sessions and fieldwork.
The conferences
The cycle of meetings opened in the morning with Antonio Cederna: green and blue in the center of Rome, a tribute to the journalist and environmentalist who fought more than anyone else for the protection of the Appia Antica. In the afternoon, the topic was Ecology of wetlands: functions, threats, and conservation, with data from the ARCARoma project, a speech by researcher Francesca Cosentino, and the presentation of the new Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles by Giacomo Bruni. The last appointment of the day was dedicated to coastal lakes and the evolution of the territory, with Giuliano Tallone, Riccardo Novaga, Tommaso Baldrati, and Valerio Urbani.
Activities and closing
Throughout the day, information points, creative recycling workshops, children's readings, watercolor and macro-photography workshops, and theatrical activities remained active. The day closed with the naturalistic quiz with prizes and the scientific aperitif accompanied by live music.
Programme Caffarella Green Fest 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026 — Casale Vigna Cardinali
- 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM — continuous activities: information points, creative recycling workshops, children's readings, naturalistic watercolor, arthropod workshop, macro-photography, theatrical activities, exhibitions, and interactive quizzes;
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — outdoor yoga with instructor Alessio Di Renzo;
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM — interdisciplinary excursions guided by the SEEDS group: geological route and naturalistic route (limited spots, booking on Eventbrite);
- 11:00 AM — opening and Conference I: "Antonio Cederna: green and blue in the center of Rome";
- 3:00 PM — Conference II: "Ecology of wetlands: functions, threats, and conservation", with ARCARoma data, researcher Francesca Cosentino, and the presentation of the Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles with author Giacomo Bruni;
- 5:00 PM — Conference III on coastal lakes and the evolution of the territory, with Giuliano Tallone, Riccardo Novaga, Tommaso Baldrati, and Valerio Urbani;
- 5:00 PM — naturalistic quiz with prizes;
- until 7:00 PM — scientific aperitif with live music.
Highlights Caffarella Green Fest 2026
- Theme of the edition: "Wetlands, treasure chests of biodiversity";
- Three free scientific conferences, with the presentation of the Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles;
- Geological and naturalistic guided excursions in Caffarella Park;
- Outdoor yoga on the park's meadows;
- Workshops for children and families: creative recycling, watercolor, arthropods, animated readings;
- Scientific aperitif with live music to close.
Prices Caffarella Green Fest 2026
Practical information — Caffarella Green Fest
How to get there
The Casa del Parco "Casale Vigna Cardinali" is located at Largo Tacchi Venturi, in Caffarella Park (Rome, ZIP 00179). By public transport: Metro Line A, Colli Albani or Furio Camillo stops, then about a 15-minute walk; numerous bus lines serve Via Latina and Via Appia Nuova. By car, parking in the surrounding streets is limited during event days: using the metro is recommended.
Admission and bookings
Free admission to all activities. Guided excursions and yoga sessions have limited spots and require online booking (via the Progetto SEEDS Eventbrite platform).
Tips
Bring comfortable light trekking shoes, water, and a hat: most activities take place on grass and dirt paths, without continuous shade. The area is suitable for children and families; dogs are allowed on a leash in the park.
Contacts
Email: [email protected] — Website: progettoseeds.com
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Where does it take place — Caffarella Green Fest
Casa del Parco "Casale Vigna Cardinali"
Largo Tacchi Venturi, Parco della Caffarella, 00179 Roma