Castle of Fear

Halloween in a medieval village in Sabina

The Castle of Fear is the Halloween festival that brings Rocchette, a tiny medieval hamlet in the municipality of Torri in Sabina (Rieti), to life every October 31st. Perched in the heart of the Sabina region in Lazio, the village is the perfect natural setting for the spookiest night of the year: for one evening, its stone alleys, stairways, and Piazza Maggiore are filled with spirits, witches, and vampires, complete with themed decorations, masks, lights, and music.

The Tour of Fear

The heart of the event is the Tour of Fear, a guided, theatrical walk that leads visitors through the most evocative spots of the village, from the main square to the top of the church. Along the way, an itinerant show features chilling encounters and apparitions, while recent editions have added a House of Horrors with special effects designed to test the courage of participants. There is also entertainment for children, who experience the evening in a more playful version of the event.

Open cellars and the autumn flavors of Sabina

Beyond the scares, the Castle of Fear is also a true gastronomic festival. The village cellars open their doors for a tasting tour featuring traditional Sabina autumn dishes: beans with pork rinds, mezze maniche pasta with pumpkin and guanciale, wild boar meatballs, falloni sabini, and desserts, all accompanied by local wine. It is a wonderful way to discover the specialties of this corner of the Rieti province in a truly unique setting.

Shows, concerts, and fireworks

The program changes every year but always includes acrobatic and fire shows, circus performances, and live concerts, often featuring rock and metal tribute bands: over the years, there have been tributes to Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath, as well as performances by groups like the Giullari del 2000 with their Horror Circus Show and the Compagnia de lo Grifone from Narni. The evening concludes with a fireworks display lighting up the village.

A local event

The event, documented since at least 2019, is organized by the CentoPerCento Rocchette association in collaboration with the Municipality of Torri in Sabina, with the aim of promoting the historical and architectural heritage of the village. Located about an hour's drive from Rome, the Castle of Fear has become one of the most original Halloween events in the Lazio region: entries are limited, and tickets, available via online pre-sale, sell out quickly.