Ciammaruca Festival

A young festival with ancient flavors

The Ciammaruca Festival is one of the most characteristic summer events in Trevi nel Lazio, a mountain village in the Province of Frosinone nestled in the heart of the Simbruini Mountains Regional Natural Park, the largest protected area in the Lazio region. Launched in 2024 by the local group Le Lumache dei Monti Simbruini, the festival has already secured a permanent spot in the mid-August calendar of the upper Aniene Valley, attracting locals, vacationers, and hikers passing through the park.

The ciammaruca, queen of the Ciociaria table

The absolute star is the ciammaruca, the term used in the local Ciociaria dialect for land snails. This is a humble, ancient ingredient of the rural cuisine of the Lazio Apennines, traditionally gathered after summer rains and cooked according to recipes passed down through generations. At the festival, the ciammaruche are prepared with simple, flavorful sauces, often based on tomato, garlic, chili, and wild herbs from the Simbruini meadows: a dish to be savored slowly, strictly by hand, in a perfect spirit of conviviality.

What to eat and how the evening unfolds

The festival takes place in the evening along Viale Cesare Battisti, in the center of Trevi nel Lazio, where food stalls open for tastings. Alongside the signature dish, there are other specialties of Lazio and mountain cuisine, all accompanied by local wine. The soundtrack is provided by live music, which transforms the main street of the village into a long, open-air banquet under the August stars.

• Tasting of ciammaruche in sauce according to the traditional recipe
• Specialties of Lazio and mountain cuisine
• Local wine and typical regional products
• Live music throughout the evening

Trevi nel Lazio, a balcony over the Simbruini Mountains

The Municipality of Trevi nel Lazio, at an altitude of about 820 meters in the Lazio Region, is one of the most picturesque villages in the upper Aniene Valley: the historic center, dominated by the imposing Castello Caetani, preserves medieval alleys and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The village is a privileged gateway to the Simbruini Mountains Park, a paradise of beech forests, springs, and trails: the festival is the perfect opportunity to combine a day of hiking—such as the nearby Trevi waterfall or the Campo Staffi plateau—with an evening of authentic popular gastronomy.

A summer of festivals in Trevi nel Lazio

The Ciammaruca Festival is part of a busy summer schedule that enlivens the village between July and August, alongside the Pro Loco Beer Festival, the Mountain Festival, and other local summer program initiatives. It is yet another reason to stay a few days in this corner of the mountain Ciociaria, where popular traditions are still lived with genuine enthusiasm by the community.