Favole di Gusto

A fairy tale told through food

Favole di Gusto is the food, wine, and cultural festival that the Municipality of Gaeta has dedicated to its local identity since 2023. The title is no coincidence: every dish served along the trail is accompanied by a story, a legend, or a family memory, turning every tasting into a journey through the city's history. This formula has quickly made the event one of the most anticipated spring appointments on the Pontine coast.

Where it takes place: Via Indipendenza and the Porto Salvo district

The heart of the event is Via Indipendenza, the bustling commercial street running through the maritime district of Porto Salvo, with its charming squares opening up toward the sea. For the occasion, the street transforms into a sequence of pop-up taverns, producer stalls, and cooking stations. The route often extends toward the medieval village of Sant'Erasmo and the Lungomare Caboto, where the salty sea air pairs perfectly with freshly fried fish.

The star flavors

The absolute symbol of the festival is the tiella di Gaeta, a rustic savory pie that originated as a complete meal for fishermen and farmers. Now a De.Co. (Municipal Designation) product, it comes in many varieties: escarole, octopus, anchovy and escarole, or zucchini. Alongside it, other local emblems take center stage:

• Oliva di Gaeta PDO and extra virgin olive oil from the surrounding hills;
• Gulf catch, from fried seafood to traditional maritime dishes;
• Roman and medieval era recipes reinterpreted by local chefs;
• Traditional Gaeta sweets and flavors from neighboring towns;
• Wines of Lazio paired with the tastings.

More than just food: culture, entertainment, and children

The culinary trail is always accompanied by a diverse program of activities: showcooking with local chefs, taste workshops, meetings with fishermen and farmers, special guided tours of the historic center and the Aragonese walls, live music, and street performances. A significant space is reserved for families, with educational workshops and entertainment designed for children, making the gastronomic stroll accessible to all ages.

The editions that built the festival

The first edition (2023) spanned four weekends in March, each with a different theme, from International Women's Day to olive oil and olives. The second edition (2024) confirmed the four-weekend format in March along Via Indipendenza. The third edition (2025) embraced the arrival of spring, focusing on two weekends between late March and early April and introducing a Wine Experience in Via Annunziata for wine enthusiasts, alongside the revival of some historical local food festivals.

A collective local project

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Gaeta with the involvement of Confcommercio, CNA, the MAM Memoria&Futuro Consortium, Pro Loco Gaeta, and the Frosinone Latina Chamber of Commerce, together with local merchants and neighborhood associations. The stated goal is twofold: to promote the agri-food excellence of southern Lazio and to attract visitors to the town during a period traditionally outside the beach tourism season.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who visit Gaeta during Favole di Gusto experience the city in its most authentic form: the winter sea opening up to spring, the illuminated alleys of the medieval village, the scent of freshly baked tiella, and the chance to speak directly with those who fish, farm, and cook. It is a slow and tangible way to discover the province of Latina and its culinary culture, far removed from the standard street food experience.