Corso dei Fiori - Polofest

A century of flowers in the Roman Sabina

The Corso dei Fiori is the oldest event in Palombara Sabina, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region. Born in 1925 from the transformation of the old local carnival, the flower parade is the root from which the famous Sagra delle Cerase—Europe's oldest cherry festival—sprouted a few years later. In 1933, at the eighth edition of the Corso, the Cav. Tosi and the Podestà decided to pair the floral displays with the territory's signature fruit: that intuition gave birth to the festival that still attracts thousands of visitors every June.

From Corso dei Fiori to Polofest

In recent years, the event has taken on a renewed identity as Polofest, the result of a partnership between the Pro Loco of Palombara Sabina and the "Matteo Quaglini" Cultural Center, named after the young local journalist who passed away prematurely. The result is a weekend that goes beyond the parade: conferences, book presentations, children's workshops, exhibitions, and concerts are spread across the Belvedere of Viale XXIV Maggio, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the Castello Savelli, and the Church of San Biagio.

Floral structures and the Cerasare

The heart of the festival remains the parade of floral structures, set up by local associations and districts with thousands of fresh flowers, accompanied by the Cerasare—figures in traditional costume representing the cherry pickers of the Sabina region. They parade alongside the Palombara Sabina Marching Band and the school orchestra, involving over two hundred children who prepare throughout the school year. The parade concludes with the awarding of the most beautiful floral compositions.

Saltarello, games, and rural memory

The afternoon is dedicated to folk traditions: the saltarello, the typical jumping dance of Lazio and the Central Apennines, is performed in the square to the rhythm of accordions and tambourines, accompanied by traditional work songs. There is no shortage of traditional folk games, chess tournaments, artisan stalls, and read-aloud workshops for the little ones. It is a program designed to reconnect generations in a village that has made rural memory its core identity.

Flavors of the Sabina

The food stalls open at noon and remain active until evening, offering typical local products: Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil, local cheeses and cured meats, homemade pasta, porchetta, and of course, desserts made with cerase (cherries), which have made Palombara famous. Everything is paired with wines from the Colli Sabini.

The village and the Lucretili Mountains

Palombara Sabina is located about 35 kilometers from Rome, on the slopes of the Lucretili Mountains, within the regional park of the same name that supports the event. The village is dominated by the Castello Savelli-Torlonia, a medieval fortress that hosts cultural events and offers a view stretching across the Roman countryside to the sea. A few kilometers away are the Abbey of San Giovanni in Argentella and the park's hiking trails: more reasons to turn your visit to the Corso dei Fiori into a weekend of discovering the Sabina region.

Why visit

• The parade of floral structures and the Cerasare in costume
• Saltarello dancing and live folk music in the square
• Stalls featuring typical Sabina products
• Activities for children and families, from workshops to traditional games
• Free admission and the authentic atmosphere of a village that has been celebrating for a century