Cellittata Larianese

A festival born around a dish

The Cellittata Larianese is the food and wine festival of Lariano, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio, nestled between the Castelli Romani and the wooded slopes of Monte Artemisio. The name comes from cellitti, the town's typical fresh pasta: a humble dough made only of water and flour, hand-rolled and dragged to create an elongated, irregular shape, somewhere between a rustic thick spaghetti and a maccherone. It is the traditional dish of Lariano's peasant cuisine, created when neither eggs nor other ingredients were available at home, and which has now become the community's gastronomic symbol.

Starting as a small neighborhood gathering, the event has grown year after year to become one of the most anticipated summer appointments in the Castelli area. In 2026, the festival celebrated its tenth edition, scheduled from July 2nd to 5th.

Where and how it takes place

The heart of the festival is Piazza Martiri della Libertà, in the town center, where food stalls and exhibition areas are set up. Every evening, starting at 7:00 PM, kitchens managed by local restaurateurs open their doors; on Saturdays and Sundays, the area opens as early as 6:00 PM and remains lively until late at night. Surrounding the outdoor tables are spaces dedicated to crafts and local products, from cheeses and cured meats to Lariano bread—a historic and highly recognizable local product—and the wines of the Castelli Romani.

The star dish

Cellitti are served primarily in their classic version, with simple, traditional local sauces, but the festival menu also includes other Lariano and Castelli specialties. The choice to entrust the kitchens to local restaurateurs ensures a quality that goes beyond the average festival: those arriving from Rome or neighboring towns will find an authentic taste of this corner of Lazio.

Music, dance, and piazza life

The program goes beyond the table. Each evening is accompanied by live entertainment: concerts, dance orchestras, tribute bands, and musical performances designed to extend dinners under the summer sky. There is no shortage of performances by local dance schools, which are very popular with families, and entertainment moments designed for children. The closing, on Sunday evening, is traditionally entrusted to a fireworks display.

Sport and nature around the festival

In recent years, the organizing committee has added outdoor initiatives to the gastronomic program, allowing visitors to discover the territory beyond the square: walks in the park's woods, with a visit to Big Bench no. 289—one of the large panoramic benches found throughout Italy—and the restored historic fountains of Pescara and Pescarella. A way to link the festival to the landscape of the Artemisio and its chestnut groves.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Associazione Comitato Ara di Norma, a Lariano-based volunteer organization that manages the logistics, setup, and entertainment program. It is a grassroots festival, built by the work of residents, and this is reflected in the atmosphere: few frills, lots of conviviality.

Why it is worth visiting

• A dish you can hardly find anywhere else, served in the place where it was born
• Free admission and musical performances: you only pay for what you consume
• Family-friendly environment, suitable for those traveling with children
• Less than an hour's drive from Rome, in an area perfect for a wider excursion between Velletri, Artena, and the Castelli Romani