Dolci Ricami di Olio

A Christmas scented with new olive oil

Every year, in early December—typically on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception—the village of Vallecorsa officially inaugurates the Christmas season with Dolci Ricami di Olio, an event that weaves together markets, gastronomy, music, and folk culture. The streets and squares of the historic center, from Piazza Sant'Angelo to Piazza Plebiscito, fill with scents, lights, and colors, guiding visitors through food stalls, artisan workshops, and festive moments for all ages.

The village of the macère, City of Oil

The name of the event is no coincidence: Vallecorsa, nestled in the Ausoni Mountains of southern Lazio, is famous for its olive groves cultivated on dry-stone terraces, known as macère, which were documented as early as the Statutes granted by the Caetani family in 1327. This landscape, an authentic monument to human labor, was the first olive-growing landscape to be included in the National Register of Historic Rural Landscapes of the Ministry of Agriculture. The "sweet embroideries" (dolci ricami) in the title refer to these very walls that embroider the hills and protect the extra virgin olive oil, the absolute star of the tastings during the festival.

The day's program

The 2025 edition, the eighth, took place on Monday, December 8th, and offered a packed program from morning until night:

• 11:00 AM — Opening in Piazza Sant'Angelo with the presentation of the ancient Pozzi Le Prata, told through an immersive virtual reality experience created by students from the De Mattias School;
• 11:30 AM — Opening of food stalls along the route from Piazza Sant'Angelo to Piazza Plebiscito, featuring traditional products and local specialties;
• 3:00 PM — Inauguration of the artistic nativity scene by Giuseppe Lauretti, which in 2025 celebrated its 50th anniversary;
• 3:30 PM — Arrival of Santa Claus and his elves at Porta Missoria, with storytelling and activities for children;
• 5:00 PM — Lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza VV.CC. di Guerra, accompanied by the "G. Verdi" Band conducted by Maestro Benedetto Agresta.

Throughout the day, the roaming folk music of the group Il Canzoniere Aurunco enlivens the alleys, while in Piazza Plebiscito, the ice skating rink remains open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM with DJ sets. The De Mattias House Museum welcomes visitors with free admission and guided tours, also hosting art exhibitions such as "Illuminare la Materia" by Renato Reali.

Flavors and crafts of Ciociaria

Dolci Ricami di Olio is, first and foremost, a celebration of taste: freshly pressed new oil is sampled on bread, alongside traditional sweets and typical products from local producers. Artisan exhibitors complete the experience, transforming the historic center into a small, charming showcase of the region's excellence.

A defining event for the town and region

Promoted by the Municipal Administration with the involvement of local associations, the event has become the annual appointment that best captures the identity of Vallecorsa: a millenary village in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of Ciociaria, which the Lazio Region lists among its most authentic destinations. It is the perfect opportunity to discover the town in its most evocative setting, amidst Christmas lights, rural traditions, and the unique landscape of the macère.