Festa della Madonna della Neve e Sagra del Tortiglione
The patronal feast and the serpent-shaped dessert of Penna in Teverina
About Festa del Tortiglione
Devotion and Gastronomic Tradition
The Festa della Madonna della Neve is the patronal feast of Penna in Teverina, a village in the Amerino region of Terni province, and is celebrated in early August around the 5th of August. The religious festival commemorates the ancient miracle of Our Lady of the Snows on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, recognized by Pope Liberius.
The Tortiglione, Umbria's Serpent Dessert
The patronal feast is paired with the Sagra del Tortiglione, dedicated to the village's typical dessert. The tortiglione (or torciglione) is an ancient serpent-shaped dessert, prepared with sweet and bitter almonds, sugar, eggs, lemon, and other closely guarded ingredients. Its sinuous shape evokes ancient propitiatory rites related to rebirth and the cyclical nature of time.
The Secret Recipe Competition
The heart of the sagra is the gastronomic competition among the village women, who challenge each other in preparing the tortiglione while keeping their family recipes secret. Food stalls, convivial gatherings, and musical evenings revolve around the dessert, enlivening the historic centre of Penna in Teverina in a highly anticipated summer event for the community and visitors.
Festa del Tortiglione — edition 2026
The 49th edition of the Festa della Madonna della Neve and Sagra del Tortiglione takes place in Penna in Teverina from August 1st to 5th, 2026. The festival combines the religious dimension (the observance of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5th) with the gastronomic one, featuring the tortiglione as the star of the traditional competition among the village women.
In the evenings, the historic centre comes alive with food stalls, convivial gatherings, and music.
Programme Festa del Tortiglione 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, including stall times, religious procession, tortiglione competition, and musical evenings, will be published by the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Penna in Teverina in the weeks preceding the festival.
Usual structure: celebrations from August 1st to 5th, culminating on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5th and the gastronomic competition dedicated to the tortiglione.
Highlights Festa del Tortiglione 2026
Practical information — Festa del Tortiglione
How to Get There
Penna in Teverina is located in the lower Tiber valley, in the province of Terni, near the border with Lazio. By car, it is accessible from the E45 and SS204; the nearest reference airports and train stations are in the Terni-Orte area.
When
The festival takes place in the first days of August, around the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows (August 5th). Events and food stalls are concentrated in the historic centre.
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Where does it take place — Festa del Tortiglione
Centro storico di Penna in Teverina