Forest Festival – Orapo and Wild Asparagus Fair

A celebration of forest and Middle Ages in the heart of the Comino Valley

The Forest Festival – Orapo and Wild Asparagus Fair is the event where Settefrati, a small mountain village in the Comino Valley, celebrates the wild flavours of its woods and the medieval memory of its stone streets. Organised by the Pro Loco of Settefrati in collaboration with the Municipality and supported by the Lazio Region, the event transforms the historic centre for an evening into a village of yesteryear, complete with costumed figures, men-at-arms, flag-wavers, and the aromas of traditional Apennine cuisine.

The medieval re-enactment: procession, tower assault, and flag-wavers

The scenic heart of the festival is the late afternoon historical re-enactment. The costumed procession departs from Piazza Colle and winds through the village to Piazza Municipio, featuring historical groups from Settefrati, San Donato Val di Comino, and Vicalvi, joined by the «I Corvi di Giano» association. Once in the square, the most anticipated moments take place: the storming of the tower, the archery competition, and the performance by the Sbandieratori di Cori, one of the most renowned groups in Lazio, who conclude the historical segment with flag-throwing and drum rolls.

Orapo and wild asparagus: treasures of the forest

Orapo—also known as white nettle or Good King Henry—is a wild herb typical of the Lazio Apennines, gathered for centuries in the woods around Settefrati and a staple of local peasant cooking. Paired with wild asparagus, a mountain spring delicacy, it creates dishes that tell the story of the territory better than any guidebook. From the evening onwards, the festival's food stalls offer specialties based on orapi and asparagus, prepared according to ancient, medieval-inspired recipes: a journey through taste that also serves to preserve rural knowledge at risk of disappearing.

Music and conviviality in the square

After dinner at the stalls, the festivities continue with live music in the square: for the 2026 edition, the concert features the Mimmo Crolla group, for an evening of folk music and dancing under the stars. Admission to the event is free, in the convivial spirit of Ciociaria village festivals.

Settefrati and the Comino Valley

Settefrati is one of the most picturesque villages in the Comino Valley, at the foot of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, and is also known for the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Canneto, a pilgrimage destination from all over southern Lazio. The Forest Festival is part of the valley's rich summer calendar, filled with fairs, re-enactments, and concerts that enliven the towns of the Frosinone province: a perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Lazio Region, far from the main tourist flows, where nature, history, and gastronomy still intertwine in the daily life of the community.