Festa della Gatta

The Festa della Gatta in Cerreto Laziale

The Festa della Gatta is the signature event of Cerreto Laziale, a small village perched at an altitude of about 520 meters in the upper Aniene Valley, in the province of Rome and the heart of Lazio. Every year, at the end of April, the streets of the historic center transform into an open-air theater where history, popular faith, and tradition intertwine for two intense days.

The legend of 1592

The festival is rooted in an event that actually occurred at the end of the 16th century. In April 1592, a band of about three hundred brigands led by Marco Sciarra besieged the village, putting it to fire and sword. Besieged and heavily outnumbered, the inhabitants resorted to an ingenious stratagem: they tied a bundle of flammable material to a cat, set it on fire, and launched it toward the enemy camp. The resulting fires caught the sleeping brigands by surprise, allowing the locals to counterattack and liberate the town. According to tradition, it was the intervention of Saint Agatha the Martyr, the village's patron saint, that stopped the flames from spreading and saved the town from total destruction.

The Palio and the four districts

The most anticipated moment is the Palio della Gatta, a challenge between the four town districts: Torre, Costa Sole, Trabocca, and Lavaturu. The competition, held in Piazza G. Marconi, recalls the cunning and courage of the Cerreto people of 1592 and culminates in the awarding of the Gatta Trophy.

Two days of faith, pageantry, and flavors

The program blends religious, historical, and social elements. It opens with the Eucharistic celebration and the procession in honor of Saint Agatha, accompanied by the "G. Verdi" Musical Band and followed by a fireworks display. In the evening, a medieval dinner is held in the heart of the village, while the following day, a historical pageant featuring flag-wavers and musicians parades through the streets. Visitors can also enjoy traditional local dishes, such as pizzarelle, a typical Lazio food product, along with other specialties served at the historic center's restaurants and stalls.

A village to discover

The Festa della Gatta is also the perfect opportunity to visit Cerreto Laziale, with its medieval alleys, churches, and panoramic views of the upper Aniene Valley. Organized by the Pro Loco Tourist Association with the involvement of the community and the Confraternity of Saint Agatha, the event is one of the most deeply rooted and well-attended appointments in the calendar of the Municipality of Cerreto Laziale.