Castrum Sancti Donati – Medieval Festival "A walk through time"
The medieval festival of San Donato Val di Comino, featuring the Palio di Santa Costanza between the village's eight districts
About Castrum Sancti Donati
A village returning to the Middle Ages
In the heart of the Comino Valley, in the province of Frosinone, the town of San Donato Val di Comino — recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and awarded the Touring Club's Orange Flag — hosts the Castrum Sancti Donati medieval festival "A walk through time" every summer. The name is no coincidence: Castrum Sancti Donati is the name by which the fortified village appears in 13th-century documents, when the Counts of Aquino became its feudal lords. With the motto "Knowing the past, enhancing the present", the event transforms the historic center into a village from another era, complete with re-enactments, processions, performances, and themed markets.
Historical roots: from 778 to the Counts of Aquino
The festival is rooted in documented history: in 778, the Lombard Duke Ildebrando of Spoleto donated the church of San Donato and the surrounding territory to the powerful monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno. This act of donation, the De Sancto Donato, is solemnly re-enacted every year at the Sanctuary of San Donato Bishop and Martyr, one of the most evocative moments of the program. The Rione Castello, with its medieval tower, access gates (Porta Orologio, Arco di San Donato, Porta del Colle), and steep cobblestone streets, provides a natural backdrop for the entire event.
The Palio di Santa Costanza
The competitive heart of the festival is the Palio di Santa Costanza, a historical archery tournament that pits the eight districts of San Donato Val di Comino against each other in Piazza Giustino Quadrari. Established in 2024 and already an identity-defining event for the community, the Palio is preceded by the grand historical pageant in medieval costume of the Counts of Aquino, brought to life by the "Le Tre Torri" flag-wavers, the Compagnia del Feudo, and the village minstrels, featuring dances by the noblewomen and the knighting ceremony.
Workshops and ancient crafts
The festival offers a rich selection of themed workshops for all ages: "Medieval Rhythm" with period music and percussion, "Dancing through Time" with ancient dances, "The Medieval Abacus" to learn how to count with denarii, soldi, and florins, "The Village Apothecary" dedicated to medicinal herbs, "The Master Brewer's Workshop" on craft beer, medieval fencing with two-handed swords, and leatherworking. Throughout the village, exhibition stalls recreate the daily life of the Middle Ages: the Merchant, the Tailor, the Apothecary, the Armorer, siege engines, and local traditional products. There are also historical conferences with university professors and archaeologists on topics such as science in the Middle Ages and the Cassino Placiti.
The Santa Costanza market
Closing the festival is the traditional Santa Costanza market in Piazza Giustino Quadrari: historical wooden stalls, costumed performers, and live demonstrations that transport visitors back to the daily life of a medieval village, amidst crafts, flavors, and ancient trades.
In the heart of the Comino Valley
Organized by the Castrum Sancti Donati Association with Visit San Donato Val di Comino, the DMO Living Ciociaria, the municipal administration, the Pro Loco, and dozens of local businesses, the festival is also an opportunity to discover the Comino Valley, at the gates of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise: an authentic corner of the Lazio region where history, nature, and gastronomy meet. All main events are free to attend.
Castrum Sancti Donati — edition 2026
With the motto "Knowing the past, enhancing the present", the 2026 edition of Castrum Sancti Donati runs from July 31 to August 23 in the historic center of San Donato Val di Comino, in the province of Frosinone. The first weekend (July 31 – August 2) transforms Piazza Matteotti into a medieval village, with historical talks, family workshops, and live shows; on August 4, the Sanctuary of San Donato Bishop and Martyr hosts the solemn re-enactment of the De Sancto Donato, the act of donation by Duke Ildebrando of Spoleto to the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno.
The grand finale is marked by Santa Costanza: on Saturday, August 22, the historical pageant of the Counts of Aquino parades with the "Le Tre Torri" flag-wavers, the Compagnia del Feudo, and the village minstrels, before the 3rd edition of the Palio di Santa Costanza, the historical archery tournament between the eight districts in Piazza Giustino Quadrari. On Sunday, August 23, the Santa Costanza market closes the event, with historical stalls and costumed performers. Themed workshops, ancient craft stalls, and conferences with university professors and archaeologists complete the program, which is entirely free to attend.
Programme Castrum Sancti Donati 2026
- July 31 – August 2, 6:00 PM — Medieval Festival: a journey into the Middle Ages with historical talks, workshops, and live shows — Piazza Matteotti
- August 4, 6:00 PM — Re-enactment of the De Sancto Donato: the donation by Duke Ildebrando of Spoleto to the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno — Sanctuary of San Donato
- August 22, 7:00 PM — Historical Pageant: parade in medieval costume of the Counts of Aquino with "Le Tre Torri" flag-wavers, Compagnia del Feudo, and village minstrels — starting from Piazza Giustino Quadrari
- August 22, 8:30 PM — Palio di Santa Costanza, 3rd edition: historical archery tournament between the eight districts — Piazza Giustino Quadrari
- August 23, 10:00 AM — Santa Costanza Market: historical stalls and costumed performers — Piazza Giustino Quadrari
- Workshops (during the festival): "Medieval Rhythm", "Digital Middle Ages", "Dancing through Time", "The Medieval Abacus", "The Village Apothecary", period board games, "The Master Brewer's Workshop", medieval fencing, and leatherworking
- Exhibition stalls and historical conferences: the Merchant, the Tailor, the Apothecary, the Armorer, siege engines, archery, and local products; meetings with university professors and archaeologists on science in the Middle Ages, stone carving, and the Cassino Placiti
Highlights Castrum Sancti Donati 2026
- Palio di Santa Costanza (3rd edition): historical archery tournament between the eight districts
- Historical pageant of the Counts of Aquino with flag-wavers, Compagnia del Feudo, and minstrels
- Re-enactment of the De Sancto Donato at the Sanctuary (778 donation)
- Medieval workshops for families and Santa Costanza market
- Free admission to all events
Prices Castrum Sancti Donati 2026
Practical information — Castrum Sancti Donati
How to get here
By car: A1 Rome-Naples motorway, exit at Cassino or Frosinone, then follow signs for Atina and the Comino Valley towards San Donato Val di Comino. The journey from Rome takes about 2 hours.
By train: Cassino station (about 40 km away), then take COTRAL bus connections towards the Comino Valley.
Tickets
Free admission to all festival events.
Tips
The main events take place in the evening between Piazza Matteotti, Piazza Giustino Quadrari, and the Sanctuary of San Donato: wear comfortable shoes for the cobblestone streets of the historic center. The village, one of the most beautiful in Italy, is worth visiting during the day, as is the nearby National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise.
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Where does it take place — Castrum Sancti Donati
Centro storico — Piazza Matteotti, Piazza Giustino Quadrari e Santuario di San Donato
Piazza Giustino Quadrari, 03046 San Donato Val di Comino