Canascione Festival

The Circeo Stuffed Pizza Festival

In the days leading up to Epiphany, the historic center of San Felice Circeo comes alive for the Canascione Festival, an event celebrating the stuffed pizza that serves as a symbol of the promontory's culinary heritage. In Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, at the heart of the village, local culinary masters prepare various versions of the canascione, offering free tastings to residents and visitors alike. Now in its 12th edition in 2026, the festival has become a staple of the Latina province's winter calendar and a unique opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of Circeo in the off-season.

Canascione: A traditional peasant dish

The canascione is a classic stuffed pizza that tells the culinary history of San Felice Circeo and its people: a simple yet genuine dough, rich in flavor, filled with broccoli rabe, sausage, or cheese and local ingredients. Originally a way to use up leftovers in the peasant kitchens of the Agro Pontino, it was traditionally prepared in village homes around Epiphany. Today, it stands as a symbol of conviviality and knowledge passed down through generations, which the festival helps to preserve and promote.

Free tastings courtesy of Arsial and the Lazio Region

A hallmark of the event is the free tasting of the canascione, made possible by funding from Arsial and the Lazio Region, which have recognized the cultural and promotional value of the project led by the Municipality of San Felice Circeo, in collaboration with the «Sagra del Canascione e Tradizioni Popolari» cultural association and the invaluable support of the Pro Loco. It is a virtuous model of regional promotion that unites local authorities, volunteers, and the agricultural sector.

Markets, Natura in Campo, and music in the village

Alongside the food stalls, the day is enriched by «Natura in Campo» exhibits, dedicated to showcasing regional agricultural excellence, and artisan markets featuring handmade goods that reflect the cultural identity of Circeo. Live music and entertainment fill the streets of the historic center, while in recent editions, the «La Voce delle Donne» committee has offered traditional local sweets.

San Felice Circeo, the village of the enchantress Circe

The festival is also an invitation to discover San Felice Circeo, a village overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea at the foot of the Circeo promontory, within the Circeo National Park. Linked to the Homeric myth of the enchantress Circe, the town preserves a medieval historic center featuring the Templar Tower and a viewpoint overlooking the Pontine Islands. In winter, the village offers an intimate and authentic atmosphere, far from the summer crowds: the Canascione Festival is the perfect time to experience it, amidst the scent of fresh bread and the folk traditions of southern Lazio.