Festa del Sole
The districts of Rieti compete on the Velino River in the Palio della Tinozza
About Festa del Sole
A river festival in the heart of Sabina
The Festa del Sole is the summer event that best captures the soul of Rieti, the capital of the province of the same name in Lazio. Every year in July, the Velino River—the waterway that flows through the city and has shaped its economic and social life for centuries—transforms into a natural amphitheater where the city's districts compete in front of thousands of people gathered on the banks, bridges, and terraces of the historic center.
From 1969 to today
The event was born in 1969 from an idea by Renato Buccioni: to bring the people of Rieti back to their river through a series of lighthearted, simple, and popular competitions. Over more than half a century, the Festa del Sole has grown into a true urban palio, with a city committee, a district association, and municipal coordination overseeing its organization. The river-based format has also fostered international ties: Rieti is twinned with Itō in Japan (1985) and Saint-Pierre-lès-Elbeuf in France (2000), cities united by similar water-based events.
The challenges: five races, one banner
The festival's sports program has remained faithful to tradition and consists of events held entirely on the water or along the banks of the Velino:
- Pole Duel: two challengers on a walkway suspended over the river try to knock their opponent off with padded sticks;
- Floating Bicycle Race: bicycles equipped with floats that travel up and down the river;
- River Boat Race: typical local boats rowed against and with the current;
- Swimming Race: a crossing in the cold, flowing waters of the Velino;
- Palio della Tinozza: the flagship event, where each district fields its athlete sitting inside a wooden tub, armed with only one oar, over a course of about 800 meters.
The sum of the scores determines which district takes home the banner, awarded on the final day in front of the entire city.
The participating districts
The heart of the festival lies in the neighborhoods: Porta Arringo, Campoloniano, Porta Romana, Borgo, San Francesco, Porta Cintia, Piazza Tevere, Vazia, Quattro Strade, Chiesa Nuova, Villa Reatina, and San Nicola. Each district has its own colors, team of athletes, committee, and a following that spends weeks preparing costumes, boats, and training. The historical pageant, with participants in Sabina attire parading through the center of Rieti, symbolically opens the main weekend and has been enriched in recent years with new, specially crafted costumes.
More than just races: music, food, and nights on the river
Surrounding the competitions is a rich calendar of side events: concerts on the banks, comedy shows, torchlight processions on the water, acrobatic performances, and, above all, gastronomy. The Fregnacce sul Ponte food festival, set up near the Roman Bridge, is now a classic of the event: fregnacce are the typical pasta of Rieti, served alongside other Sabina specialties like trout panzanella. It is the perfect opportunity to discover the cuisine of a province often overlooked by the major tourist circuits of Lazio.
Why it's worth the trip
The Festa del Sole is not a re-enactment staged for tourists: it is a celebration the city hosts for itself, which is precisely why it feels so authentic and engaging. The Municipality of Rieti, which prides itself on the title of Umbilicus Italiae due to its geographical position in the center of the peninsula, offers its most vibrant version during these days, amidst medieval arches, palaces overlooking the Velino, and a river that returns, for one week, to being the city's main square.
Festa del Sole — edition 2026
A longer festival
The main organizational novelty of the 56th edition is the moving of the official trials from the Wednesday-Friday of the Palio week to the weekend of July 18 and 19, 2026: a choice intended to increase district participation and allow the city to experience the Festa del Sole for longer, with evening shows and initiatives along the Velino.
Twelve districts at the start
Twelve districts are officially registered for the competition: Porta Arringo, Campoloniano, Porta Romana, Borgo, San Francesco, Porta Cintia, Piazza Tevere, Vazia, Quattro Strade, Chiesa Nuova, Villa Reatina, and San Nicola. Fifteen new Sabina costumes have been added to the historical pageant, while the prizes remain signed by Sara Buccioni, following the family tradition started by the event's founder, Renato Buccioni.
Towards the Sunday of the Palio
Everything converges on Sunday, July 26, when the final races take place on the Velino and the Palio della Tinozza is awarded. The organization is handled by the Festa del Sole Municipal Coordination led by Valerio Temperanza, together with the 1969 Festa del Sole City Committee and the District Association.
Programme Festa del Sole 2026
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Qualifiers on the Velino
- From 4 PM to 8 PM: first two qualifying heats on the Velino River, with the three categories provided by the regulations (bicycles, river boats, and tubs)
- Saturday, July 18, 7 PM: district parade, followed by evening shows along the river
- Friday evening: the 'Fregnacce sul Ponte' food festival returns near the Roman Bridge
- Evenings with music and entertainment on the banks of the Velino
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — Official Presentation
- 5:30 PM, Rieti Town Hall (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II): press conference presenting the full program and side events, with Mayor Daniele Sinibaldi and Councilor Giovanni Rositani
From Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, 2026 — The Big Festival
- Historical pageant of the districts in the center of Rieti, with participants in Sabina costume
- Evening shows, music, and gastronomic initiatives along the river
- Sunday, July 26: main day with the race finals and the Palio della Tinozza, followed by the awarding of the banner to the winning district
Full details of the side events will be illustrated at the press conference on July 21: the final program will be published by the Municipality of Rieti and the organizers in the days immediately preceding the event.
Highlights Festa del Sole 2026
- Palio della Tinozza, Sunday, July 26: the flagship event, with district athletes sitting in a wooden tub with only one oar
- The new opening weekend of July 18-19, a 'mini Festa del Sole' with afternoon qualifiers and evening shows
- The historical pageant of the twelve districts, enriched this year by fifteen new Sabina costumes
- The 'Fregnacce sul Ponte' food festival at the Roman Bridge, featuring typical Rieti pasta
- Water races with floating bicycles and river boats on the Velino
Prices Festa del Sole 2026
Practical information — Festa del Sole
How to get there
Rieti can be reached by car via the Salaria (SS4) from Rome (about 80 km) or from Terni (about 35 km); there is no direct train connection with Rome, as the Rieti station is served by the Terni-L'Aquila line. Numerous Cotral buses connect Rome (Tiburtina) to Rieti in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Nearest airports: Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino.
Where to watch the races
The events take place on the Velino River, in the urban stretch between the Roman Bridge and the banks of the center. Viewing the races from the banks and bridges is free and open to the public.
Costs
Access to the races, parades, and shows is free. Only the food festivals and gastronomic stands charge a fee (the Fregnacce sul Ponte dinner has been priced around 15 euros in past years).
Tips
Arrive well in advance on the final day to find a spot along the banks; the historic center is subject to traffic restrictions and parking fills up quickly. Bring a hat and water: the events take place in the afternoon, often under the full July sun.
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Where does it take place — Festa del Sole
Fiume Velino e centro storico di Rieti