Dining Under the Stars

A dinner among the stars in the Turano hamlet

Dining Under the Stars is the grand village dinner that enlivens Castel di Tora every summer, a small town in the province of Rieti overlooking Lake Turano in the heart of the Lazio Sabina region. On the evening following Ferragosto, the medieval historic center turns into an open-air culinary route: stone alleys, stairways, and small squares become banquet tables where you can savor dishes prepared by local cooks, framed by the silhouettes of Mount Terminillo and the lake's mirror-like waters.

The flavors of the Sabina tradition

The heart of the festival is the local folk cuisine, served along a route that winds through the entire town. Among the most anticipated specialties are the famous fried pizzas (pizze fritte), both sweet and savory, which have also been the stars of the historic Fried Pizza Evening that has accompanied the event for over twenty years.

• Sweet and savory fried pizzas
• Roman-style tripe
• Beans with pork rinds
• Grilled arrosticini and sausages
• Local wine and beer

Every course tells the story of Sabina's peasant cuisine, made of simple ingredients, bold flavors, and recipes passed down from generation to generation.

Music, performances, and atmosphere

As you stroll among the food stalls, the village fills with live music and roaming performances suitable for all ages. The streets come alive with notes and colors late into the night, while the main squares host concerts and entertainment under the starry sky. In the 2025 edition, the evening was graced by the concert of the Introspection Duo, blending jazz, blues, and fusion sounds in Piazza San Giovanni.

One of Italy's most beautiful villages

Castel di Tora is part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy club and offers unforgettable glimpses: the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, the medieval hexagonal tower, historic palaces, and panoramas opening over Lake Turano. By day, the town invites you to walk through its alleys, go hiking, or enjoy activities on the lake shores; by night, it lights up for its most anticipated festival. Dining Under the Stars is much more than a food festival: it is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Lazio, where the table becomes a community celebration and the village shares its story with its visitors.