Feast of Saint Bernardino of Siena and Marinated Fish Festival

A patronal feast on the shores of Lake Bracciano

In Trevignano Romano, in the heart of the Bracciano-Martignano Regional Park, the feast of Saint Bernardino of Siena is the most cherished event of the year. The village, mirrored on the northern shore of Lake Bracciano, pauses for several days around May 20th, the patron saint's day: the streets of the historic center, the lakefront, and the Piazzale del Molo fill with religious celebrations, concerts, games, and the aromas of local lake cuisine. The festival is organized by the Municipality of Trevignano Romano in collaboration with the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta and local associations, representing one of the strongest identity-defining moments in this corner of the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region.

The legend of Saint Bernardino and the marinated fish

The bond between the Sienese saint and Trevignano dates back to the 14th century. According to tradition, the population fled the village upon hearing news of a Saracen landing on the Tyrrhenian coast; the Franciscan friar reassured the people of Trevignano, stayed with them for five days, and—as the legend goes—taught them how to preserve the lake's catch by frying it and marinating it in vinegar. The Saracens never arrived, and the nets were filled with fish as if in a miraculous catch. Grateful, around 1450, the community elected Bernardino as their patron and dedicated a church to him, built in 1452. In 1980, after centuries, the saint's relics returned in a procession through the village streets, strengthening a cult that has never been interrupted.

The Marinated Fish Festival

The gastronomic component of the feast is the Marinated Fish Festival, which reached its 53rd edition in 2026. At the stand on the Piazzale del Molo, volunteers from the Il Cormorano association prepare the village's signature dish: fillets of lake fish—whitefish, tench, eel, pike, and silverside—fried and then marinated in water and vinegar with lemon, garlic, rosemary, and sage, following a recipe passed down through generations. Alongside the marinated fish, on the peak days, the stand offers a full menu with other local specialties to enjoy just steps away from the water.

Nine days of celebration between the sacred and the profane

The calendar intertwines liturgy and conviviality: solemn masses and rosaries in the church of Saint Bernardino, the procession through the village streets with the participation of the Bishop, the fishing competition for children on the lakefront, the brass band concert, the traditional Trevignano bingo in the square, and, to close the patron saint's day, the fireworks display reflecting on the lake waters. During the final weekend, the festival continues with lake markets, concerts, and a burraco tournament.

Why visit

The feast of Saint Bernardino is the ideal opportunity to discover one of the prettiest villages in Lazio: the medieval historic center perched below the ruins of the Rocca Orsini, one of the best-kept lakefronts on Lake Bracciano, and a unique gastronomic tradition born—so the legend says—from a saint's advice. An authentic event with free admission, where the community opens its traditions to visitors.