Castelli di Cioccolato

A chocolate village in the historic center of Marino

Castelli di Cioccolato is an event entirely dedicated to the world of artisan chocolate that brings the historic center of Marino—a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region—to life every autumn. For three days, Corso Trieste fills with stalls, scents, and colors: a continuous stroll among the stands of master chocolatiers from every region of Italy, open continuously from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM with completely free admission.

The event is organized by Roma Chocolate in Tour under the patronage of the Municipality of Marino and has become a staple of the autumn calendar in the Castelli Romani, attracting families, curious visitors, and enthusiasts not only from nearby towns but also from Rome, located just twenty kilometers away.

What you will find along the route

The heart of the event is the selection of products. Artisans bring their finest creations to Marino, often the result of slow processing and carefully selected raw materials:

• Pralines and bonbons with fillings, from classic ganaches to more creative interpretations
• Chocolate bars in dark, milk, flavored, and spiced varieties, including single-origin options
• Artisan spreads, a delicious alternative to industrial products
• Vegan chocolate and options designed for specific dietary needs
• Chocolate sculptures created by master pastry chefs, often true ephemeral works of art
• Regional specialties reinterpreted in a sweet key, showcasing the traditions of the exhibitors' home territories

Show cooking, workshops, and contests

Alongside the stalls, the event offers a program of live appointments. Show cooking sessions allow you to observe cocoa processing techniques up close: tempering, pouring into molds, and decorating. Master chocolatiers prepare desserts live and explain the steps to the public, turning the tasting into an educational experience.

The free educational workshops for children, held daily, are very popular: the little ones can create their own personalized chocolate bar, choosing their own decorations and ingredients. It is a way to learn while having fun and to discover the secrets of one of the world's most beloved products up close.

Recent editions have also featured an amateur dessert contest, open to local pastry enthusiasts who are challenged to use chocolate as the main ingredient. A simple formula that has brought the event even closer to the local community.

Marino and the Castelli Romani

Marino is one of the most well-known villages in the Castelli Romani, the volcanic hilly area overlooking the lakes of Albano and Nemi. The town is famous above all for the Grape Festival, the oldest in Italy, and for its winemaking tradition; the chocolate event adds a different, sweet, and artisan note to the autumn calendar, which integrates well with the area's food and wine vocation.

The event route winds through the historic center, allowing you to alternate gourmet stops with the discovery of local heritage: monumental fountains, Baroque churches, and the alleys of the village, with the possibility of continuing your day towards Lake Albano or the other towns of the Castelli.

An event for everyone

Free admission, extended hours, and the open-air format make Castelli di Cioccolato an event particularly suitable for families. You can visit in a few hours or dedicate the entire day to it, combining a stroll among the stalls with a stop at the local shops. The atmosphere is typical of Castelli Romani village festivals: informal, convivial, and very popular, especially on the weekend.