Fish Festival (Fiumicino Maritime Traditions Feast)

A festival born from the sea

The Fish Festival, officially known as the Fiumicino Maritime Traditions Feast, is one of the most deeply rooted events on the Lazio coast. The first edition dates back to 1970, when a group of local fishermen decided to honor the town's maritime roots with a festival open to all. Over half a century later, the event is organized by the Pro Loco of Fiumicino with the patronage of the Municipality of Fiumicino and the Lazio Region, attracting thousands of visitors from Rome and the surrounding province every year.

The giant frying pan, the absolute star

The symbol of the festival is the giant frying pan: a structure about four meters in diameter and two meters high, capable of holding hundreds of liters of oil heated by twelve burners, with twenty baskets working simultaneously. This is where the festival's famous fried seafood is prepared: calamari, shrimp, and anchovies served in traditional paper cones, with over two tons distributed throughout the three evenings.

What to eat

Alongside the fried seafood, the gastronomic area offers a menu entirely dedicated to local catches and the Tyrrhenian seafood cuisine:

• Mixed fried seafood of calamari, shrimp, and anchovies in paper cones
• Mussels prepared in sauté, with several hundred kilograms served
• Seafood pasta dishes, including paccheri with calamari, zucchini, and guanciale
• Supplì (rice croquettes) with zucchini and calamari, anchovies, and cheese
• A stand dedicated to gluten-free frying, created in collaboration with the celiac association

More than just food

For three days, Piazzale Traiano Imperatore hosts a market of local products and small crafts, photography and painting exhibitions, free recreational activities for children and adults, and a live music program that accompanies every evening. Admission to the market and shows is free: you only pay for what you consume in the dining area, with prices varying based on the dishes chosen.

Fiumicino, between the port and the Tiber delta

Located at the western edge of the Province of Rome, in Lazio, Fiumicino grew around its canal port and the mouth of the Tiber. Its fishing fleet remains one of the most important in the central Tyrrhenian Sea, and the festival is its most direct popular celebration. Visitors can easily combine the festival with a walk along the canal port, a visit to the Port of Trajan and the excavations of Ostia Antica, or a boat trip along the Tiber Delta: the Pro Loco offers guided tours, theatrical performances, and river excursions during the festival.

When to go

The event is traditionally held on the first weekend of June, from Friday to Sunday, mainly in the evening. It is advisable to arrive early, especially on Sunday: the distribution of fried seafood continues until supplies last, and queues in front of the giant frying pan can become long as early as the first hours of the evening.