Festa della Montagna

The alpini's festival at high altitude

The Festa della Montagna is one of the most cherished summer events in Matelica, in the province of Macerata, in the heart of the Marche region. Organised by the Gruppo Alpini Val Potenza along with former and retired forest rangers, the event brings the community to high altitude for two days, on the Prati del San Vicino, the wide plateau that opens up at the foot of Monte San Vicino, between the municipalities of Matelica, Gagliole, and Castelraimondo.

In 2026, the festival reaches its 22nd edition: a milestone that tells the story of the loyalty of an event born from the alpini's passion for the mountains, for conviviality, and for community traditions. It's not a large festival attracting tourists, but an authentic celebration, made of people, songs, and shared tables, which every year draws campers from various regions of Italy.

Between food, polenta, and music

The heart of the festival is the rancio alpino (alpini's meal), the large communal table that brings together over a hundred participants outdoors, under the sky of the Prati del San Vicino. Polenta is the queen of the table, served on Saturday evening with the arrival of the numerous campers who come up for the occasion. It's a simple and genuine moment of celebration, attended by local authorities and representatives of the National Alpini Association.

Sunday morning is dedicated to the more solemn and musical part: the Matelica town band climbs to the altitude for the traditional Concert in the Mountains, while a mass is celebrated, a procession in honour of the Madonna, and the awarding of historical prizes related to the event. All this in an atmosphere that blends spirituality, alpini memory, and popular celebration.

An event rooted in the territory

The Festa della Montagna is held under the patronage of the Municipalities of Matelica and Castelraimondo and involves mayors and administrators from neighbouring municipalities every year, as well as regional alpini leaders. It is included in the official calendar of summer events promoted by the Pro Matelica Association, testifying to the role this festival plays in Matelica's summer.

For those visiting the inner Marche region, the festival is also the perfect opportunity to discover Monte San Vicino and its high-altitude meadows, one of the most evocative natural areas of the Macerata Apennines, ideal for excursions, picnics, and walks among beech forests and pastures.