Ciammella Festival of Veroli

The anise bread festival of Veroli

In the heart of the Ciociaria region, the Borgo Santa Croce of Veroli dedicates the beginning of September each year to its most iconic specialty: the ciammella, an anise-flavored bread shaped like a crown, freshly leavened, boiled in water, and then finished in a wood-fired oven. The Ciammella Festival, which marked its 45th edition in 2025, is one of the longest-running gastronomic events in the province of Frosinone: an authentic village celebration where culinary tasting intertwines with religious festivities in honor of the Madonna della Pietà.

The Veroli ciammella, a handed-down ritual

The ciammella of Veroli originated as a festive bread: a simple dough of flour, water, salt, yeast, and anise seeds, crafted by the local women of the village — the so-called "ciammellare" — using a double-cooking technique that makes it unique. First, it is boiled in water, then baked at high temperatures in a wood-fired oven, emerging golden and fragrant. It was once prepared primarily for New Year's in the ovens of the Santa Croce district, where this tradition has been documented since ancient times; today's September festival celebrates its survival and transmission to new generations.

The Madonna della Pietà celebrations

The festival is part of the celebrations the village dedicates to the Madonna della Pietà in the first week of September, organized by the local brotherhood together with the Pro Loco: solemn masses, a procession accompanied by a brass band, and moments of popular devotion that mark the days. It is precisely this blend of faith and conviviality that gives the event the character of a true neighborhood festival, where sharing bread becomes a sign of belonging.

What to find at the festival

Alongside the freshly baked ciammelle, distributed and sold along the village streets, the festival day offers:

• a market fair featuring handicrafts and typical products from the Ciociaria region;
• tastings of traditional Veroli dishes, starting with the famous garofolato, a savory meat specialty flavored with cloves that local tradition traces back to ancient recipes;
• folk music and concerts in the evening, such as the performance by the group Aria Meridionale that closed the 2025 edition with drums and dancing;
• entertainment for families and children, typical of village festivals.

Veroli, an art village in Ciociaria

The municipality of Veroli, in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region, is one of the most evocative historic centers in Ciociaria: a medieval village of alleys, churches, and palaces overlooking the Cosa river valley, just a few kilometers from the Cistercian abbey of Casamari. The festival is an excellent opportunity to discover the town, taste its typical products, and experience the intimate atmosphere of a celebration that has kept the identity of Borgo Santa Croce alive for nearly half a century.