Cellar Festival

A night of open cellars in the heart of Sabina

The Cellar Festival is the summer event that best captures the spirit of Poggio Catino, a small town in the Province of Rieti, Lazio, overlooking the Tiber Valley from the slopes of Monte Tancia. For one night only in early June, the historic cellars carved beneath the village homes are reopened and linked by a lit food and wine trail that winds through the alleys, arches, and squares of the medieval historic center. This is no ordinary fair in a parking lot: the entire village becomes the venue, with residents manning the stalls and families passing the baton from one course to the next.

Seven tasting stops through the village squares

The heart of the event is a multi-stop itinerary winding through the town's main squares. Each station offers a specialty, allowing visitors to curate their own dinner while strolling from square to square, glass in hand. Recent editions have included:

• Castle Gardens — bruschetta, beer, and wine, as a scenic starting point;
• Piazza Capizucchi — traditional pasta dishes;
• San Nicola — fried food station;
• Castle — grilled meats;
• Piazza della Regina — fagioli con le cotiche (beans with pork rinds), a signature dish of Sabina peasant cuisine;
• Historic Village Oven — pizza baked in the old wood-fired oven, relit specifically for the festival;
• Piazza San Lorenzo — porchetta sandwiches.

The trail is accompanied by local wines and typical Sabina products, a land known primarily for its DOP extra virgin olive oil and small-scale, family-run viticulture.

Live music and DJ sets until late

The soundtrack of the evening is spread along the entire route: each refreshment point has its own stage or musical corner, with genres ranging from folk to pop, singer-songwriter sets, and DJ sets that liven up the final hours of the night. Recent programs have featured the Life dance school of Poggio Catino, the folk group Caveja, the Alfa band, Simone Sartini, and the Spit session by Sivanada, alongside DJ sets by Fanaka, Lele B, Gigi Sautelli, Fabio B, and The voice Karl. It is a formula that brings generations together: starting with folk dance and music, and ending with dancing in the alleys.

An event by the Pro Loco, for the village

The festival is organized by the Pro Loco Poggio Catino, which coordinates volunteers, private cellar owners, and local businesses every year. The event has surpassed ten editions and is now one of the most anticipated appointments in the early summer calendar of the Rieti region, attracting visitors from Rieti, the lower Sabina, and the Rome area, just over an hour's drive away.

Why it's worth the trip

Those arriving in Poggio Catino for the Cellar Festival find a village of a few hundred inhabitants that doubles its population for one night, without losing its intimate charm. The medieval vistas, the castle, the stone staircases, and the open cellars provide an authentic image of Sabina, one that cannot be seen from the main roads. It is an evening designed to be experienced slowly, on foot, tasting a little at a time and stopping to listen to music wherever you find it.

Tips for your visit

• Arrive early: the stands open at 8:00 PM and the first stops get crowded quickly.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the route is entirely on cobblestones, stairs, and slopes in the historic center.
• Use the shuttle service provided by the organizers: parking in the village is extremely limited.
• Bring cash: village festival food stalls do not always accept electronic payments.