Collacciani in the World Festival

A celebration for those coming home

There are villages that, in summer, fill with familiar faces arriving from afar. Colle San Magno is one of them. Every year, in the heart of August, this small village in the Ciociaria region, in the province of Frosinone, celebrates the Collacciani in the World Festival: an evening entirely dedicated to the emigrants and descendants of the 'collacciani' who, in Italy and abroad, cherish their roots. It is a moment of community where the seasonal return to the village becomes an occasion for celebration, meeting, and emotion.

A village clinging to Monte Cairo

Colle San Magno stands at an altitude of about 540 meters, on the western slopes of the Monte Cairo massif, in a dominant position over the Liri Valley below. Its historic center, of medieval layout, develops around the tower of the ancient palace of the lords of Aquino, among stone walls and alleys that tell centuries of history. Around the village lie the woods where the prized truffle—the pride and characteristic product of the area—is gathered. It is in this setting that the festival comes to life, among the squares and spaces of the village.

Emigration and identity

Like many small towns in the Lazio hinterland, Colle San Magno experienced an intense season of emigration during the 20th century. The Collacciani in the World Festival was created precisely to keep that thread from breaking: it is the moment when the village gathers around those who left, acknowledging their belonging. The municipal administration describes the evening as "a climate of emotions, returns, and embraces," a way to say that the bond with one's land is not broken by distance.

Music in the square

The highlight of the festival is the grand evening concert, which transforms the center of the village into an open-air stage. Live music, good company, and local flavors provide the backdrop for a night of shared celebration, open to residents, returning emigrants, and visitors alike.

Part of a summer of events

The Collacciani in the World Festival is one of the flagship events of Colle San Magno's rich summer calendar, which in August also features the Mountain Festival, the "Jazz alla Torre" jazz festival linked to the Severino Gazzelloni International Festival, the "Il Borgo Racconta" food and wine tour, and the traditional religious celebrations of San Rocco and San Magno. An entire village that, for a few weeks, returns to live, resist, and tell its own story.