Fregnacce with Persa Festival

A festival that closes the Sabina summer

The Fregnacce with Persa Festival is the most anticipated event of the summer in Castelnuovo di Farfa, a charming medieval village in the Sabina region of the Rieti province, in Lazio. Held annually on August 14th, it serves as the grand finale of the "Estate Castelnovese," a series of events that brings the village to life from early July. Now in its 38th year, the festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Castelnuovo di Farfa and draws visitors from across the Farfa Valley and the nearby Roman area.

Fregnacce with persa: a signature dish

Fregnacce are a traditional fresh pasta from the local farming culture, made simply with flour, eggs, and water, then cut into wide strips. What makes them unique is the seasoning: a delicate pesto made from persa—the local dialect name for marjoram—combined with garlic, chili, and a generous drizzle of Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil, the iconic product of this territory. It is a humble yet incredibly aromatic dish, a cousin to the classic 'aglio, olio e peperoncino', deeply rooted in the olive-growing culture that has defined Sabina for centuries.

Local flavors and conviviality

During the evening, food stalls set up in Piazza Comunale serve the fregnacce with persa, accompanied by grilled meats and a good glass of wine. All products are strictly locally sourced (km 0), showcasing the short supply chain and the authentic flavors of Sabina. Around the bustling tables, you can soak up the genuine, convivial atmosphere of a village feast, filled with laughter, dancing, and live music that keeps the party going late into the night.

The village of Castelnuovo di Farfa

Castelnuovo di Farfa is located just a short distance from the famous Farfa Abbey, one of the oldest and most important in Italy, and overlooks the landscape of the Farfa Gorges Natural Monument. The village is home to the Sabina Olive Oil Museum, housed in the Renaissance-era Palazzo Perelli, which tells the story of the area's ancient olive-growing heritage. Attending the festival is the perfect opportunity to discover one of the most evocative villages in the Rieti area, nestled among centuries-old olive groves just over fifty kilometers from Rome.

A full summer of events

The Fregnacce with Persa Festival is not an isolated event; it marks the end of the long "Estate Castelnovese" season, which kicks off in July with the ArtePiano International Festival and continues for weeks with concerts, shows, dancing, and games for all ages. On August 14th, the community gathers in the town square for the final big celebration before Ferragosto—a collective ritual that blends taste, tradition, and local pride.