Cherry Festival

A tradition spanning centuries

The Cherry Festival in Palombara Sabina, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, is much more than a local village fair: it is the defining event for the entire Monti Lucretili territory, on the border between the Roman countryside and the Sabina region. Recognized as the oldest cherry festival in Europe, it reached its 98th edition in 2026, confirming its status as the flagship event of the municipal calendar and one of the most anticipated in the Lazio region.

The bond between Palombara and the cherry dates back to the 13th century. The local variety bears a name that tells a story: the Ravenna del Papa (Pope's Ravenna), so called because—according to local tradition—Pope Honorius IV regularly requested supplies for the Vatican table. Since then, cherry cultivation has shaped the agricultural landscape of the hills surrounding the village, which turns a vibrant red with ripe fruit in late spring.

Allegorical floats, the heart of the festival

The most anticipated moment is the parade of allegorical floats, which closes the event on Sunday afternoon. The town's districts spend weeks working on monumental structures, some over four meters high, which are then literally dressed with thousands of cherries and fresh flowers during the night preceding the procession—the evocative Night of the Flowers. At the end of the parade, a jury awards prizes and declares the winning district in a display of affectionate local rivalry that involves entire families from generation to generation.

Ten days of taste, culture, and entertainment

The program goes beyond the parade. Throughout the festival, the historic center hosts:

• food stalls and culinary tours featuring typical Sabina products—extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, cured meats, and cherry-based desserts;
• the cherry exhibition, a showcase of the varieties grown by local producers;
• art and photography exhibitions, conferences on local agri-food, and guided tours;
• urban trekking through the medieval village and special openings of Castello Savelli, which overlooks the town from above;
• entertainment for children, magic shows, and family games;
• evening concerts, themed parties, performances by the Palombara Sabina Town Band, majorettes, and folk groups;
• the election of the Palombella, the lottery, and the final fireworks display.

The village and the Monti Lucretili

Palombara Sabina is located just over forty kilometers from Rome, within the Monti Lucretili Regional Natural Park. The village preserves a compact medieval layout with alleys, stairways, and views of the valley, dominated by the Castello Savelli Torlonia, built around the year 1000 and renovated several times. Nearby, the Abbey of San Giovanni in Argentella and the hiking trails leading up to Monte Gennaro are well worth a detour.

Why it's worth the trip

The Cherry Festival is one of those cases where a village fair has not been tamed by tourism: participation is genuinely local, the floats are built by residents, and the calendar still follows the rhythm of the harvest. For those arriving from Rome, it is a perfect day trip, combining the festival, a visit to the village, and a walk in the park. Admission to the event is free, and most cultural activities are free of charge: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls.