Carciofo alla Matticella Festival
The rustic ritual of artichokes grilled over vine embers, blending flavors, music, and tradition in Velletri
About Carciofo alla Matticella
A festival scented with embers and spring
Every year in late April, Velletri dedicates a long weekend to its signature dish: the Carciofo alla Matticella (artichoke grilled over vine embers). The festival, promoted by the Municipality of Velletri and organized by the Associazione Vignaroli Velletrani APS, transforms this Castelli Romani town in the Lazio region into a vibrant tapestry of flavors, featuring food stalls, cooking demonstrations, conferences, musical performances, and events dedicated to vintage cars and bicycles. It is a food and wine festival in the truest sense: at its heart lies not just a product, but an entire rural ritual.
The 'matticella', a centuries-old rural rite
The matticella is the bundle of vine shoots that Velletri farmers would tie together after winter pruning. In spring, these dry branches became the perfect fuel for a hot, fragrant fire, over which Romanesco artichokes—the famous 'mammole'—were slow-cooked, seasoned with fresh garlic, wild mint, salt, and generous amounts of extra virgin olive oil. Traces of this tradition appear in the writings of the Jesuits who administered Velletri during the Papal States era, and to this day, this spring artichoke feast remains a moment of conviviality that brings families together. The Velletri Carciofo alla Matticella is officially recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT) of the Lazio region.
The 2026 edition at the CREA Institute
In 2026, the festival took place from April 24th to 26th at the CREA Institute – Viticulture and Enology on Via Cantina Sperimentale, a historic experimental winery in Velletri. This setting was no coincidence, as it perfectly links the artichoke to the world of the vine from which the matticelle are born. The program featured conferences with agricultural experts, cooking shows by APCI Lazio chefs, guided tastings of extra virgin olive oil hosted by CAPOL, and samples of Velletri bread, with hot artichokes served on plates alongside local bread.
Beyond artichokes: music, motors, and vintage cycling
Alongside the gastronomy, the festival offers a rich entertainment lineup: dance evenings and 90s revivals, tributes to Roman songs and Rino Gaetano, dialect poetry readings, performances by local dance schools, and spaces for crafts, art, and children. Two side events have become as anticipated as the artichokes themselves: the 'Carciofauto' vintage car rally by the CA.MA.SI. Club Velletri and the 'La Velletrana' historic cycling tour, a ride on vintage bicycles through vineyards named after grape varieties like Malvasia and Merlot. In 2026, Sunday also welcomed pilgrims from the Via Francigena del Sud.
Velletri, the rural capital of the Castelli Romani
Velletri, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome, is one of the agricultural capitals of the Castelli Romani: a land of wine, oil, and bread, where rural culture remains a deeply rooted identity. The Carciofo alla Matticella Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover this authentic side of Lazio, less than an hour from Rome, amidst tastings, history, and warm local hospitality.
Carciofo alla Matticella — edition 2026
The 2026 edition at the CREA
The 2026 edition of the Carciofo alla Matticella Festival marked a turning point: the event moved to the grounds of the CREA Institute – Viticulture and Enology at Via Cantina Sperimentale 1, a historic experimental winery in Velletri, with organization entrusted to the Associazione Vignaroli Velletrani APS and coordination by the Municipality's Department of Agriculture. A symbolic location that unites the artichoke with the vine, from which the matticelle used for cooking are born.
Friday opened with the official inauguration and a conference dedicated to the Carciofo alla Matticella and the promotion of Velletri's agri-food excellence, followed by the 'From Earth to Embers' cooking show and a 90s dance evening. Saturday featured the Carciofauto vintage car rally by the CA.MA.SI. Club Velletri, cooking shows, poetry readings by 'La Vigna dei Poeti', and a tribute concert to Rino Gaetano. Sunday was the day of the La Velletrana historic cycling tour, in its fifth edition, with three routes through the vineyards (10, 30, and 50 km) and the reception of pilgrims from the Via Francigena del Sud, before the grand finale with a tribute to Roman songs.
Portions of hot artichokes with Velletri bread for 4 euros, guided oil tastings by CAPOL, and spaces for crafts, art, and children rounded out three days of popular celebration.
Programme Carciofo alla Matticella 2026
Friday, April 24
- 17:00 – Official inauguration with institutional greetings
- 17:30 – Conference on Carciofo alla Matticella and Velletri's agri-food excellence
- 18:30 – 'From Earth to Embers' cooking show with APCI Lazio chefs
- 19:00 – Performances by FC Dance and Academy School
- 20:30 – 'Dance Floor Memories': 90s show with DJs, live orchestra, and dancers
Saturday, April 25
- 08:30 – 'Carciofauto' vintage car rally (CA.MA.SI. Club Velletri)
- 10:00 – Reopening of food stalls
- 11:00 – 'Artichoke and Mint Scents' cooking show
- 12:30 – Musical performance by Lavinia Fiorani 'La RomAntica'
- 17:30 – 'Artichokes, Bread, Oil' cooking show
- 19:00 – 'Scents and Flavors' readings and poetry with the La Vigna dei Poeti association
- 20:30 – Rino Gaetano cover band concert 'Nun te reggo più'
Sunday, April 26
- 08:00 – Start of the 'La Velletrana' historic cycling tour (vintage bikes, 10, 30, and 50 km routes)
- 10:00 – Food and craft stalls
- 11:00 – 'The Earth, the Vine, and the Artichoke' cooking show; arrival of the 10 km route (Malvasia)
- 12:30 – Musical performance by Simone & Sabrina; arrival of the 30 km route
- 13:30 – Reception of pilgrims from the Via Francigena del Sud
- 14:00 – Arrival of the 50 km route (Merlot)
- 17:30 – 'The Taste of Origins' cooking show
- 18:30 – 'Social Moment' dance performance (Sentimiento y Manana)
- 20:30 – Tribute to Roman songs
Highlights Carciofo alla Matticella 2026
Prices Carciofo alla Matticella 2026
Practical information — Carciofo alla Matticella
How to get there
By train: Regional line Rome Termini–Velletri (approx. 1 hour); the CREA Institute on Via Cantina Sperimentale can be reached from the station in a few minutes by car or taxi. By car: From Rome, take the Via Appia Nuova (SS7) or Via dei Laghi towards Velletri; parking is available near the festival area.
Prices and reservations
Free admission. A portion of hot artichokes with Velletri bread costs approximately 4 euros; in 2026, reservations were available online. Guided oil tastings and samples are provided by local associations.
Tips
The best time to visit is late afternoon, when the matticella embers are lit and the cooking shows and concerts begin. Combine your visit with a stroll through the historic center of Velletri and the wineries of the Castelli Romani.
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Where does it take place — Carciofo alla Matticella
Istituto CREA – Viticoltura ed Enologia
Via Cantina Sperimentale 1, 00049 Velletri