Frog and Regina Bean Festival

A festival that tells the story of the Aniene Valley

The Frog and Regina Bean Festival is one of the most distinctive gastronomic events in the Lazio hinterland. It takes place in Agosta, a village of just over a thousand inhabitants perched in the Aniene Valley, in the province of Rome. Every year, it transforms the charming Piazza San Nicola into a large open-air gathering dedicated to the flavors of peasant cuisine. The event is passionately organized by the Agosta Pro Loco, which carries on this tradition to promote the town's culinary culture and showcase its local excellence.

Frogs and the 'ranocchiari' of Agosta

The festival's signature dish is fried frog, golden and crispy, prepared according to a recipe passed down through generations. The inhabitants of Agosta were historically famous in the area for their skill in cooking frogs, which were once abundant in the ditches and marshes of the plain below: it was precisely because of this culinary vocation that they were affectionately nicknamed the ranocchiari. The festival recovers and celebrates this identity, which is deeply rooted in the community's agricultural and food history.

The Regina bean, an indigenous legume

Alongside the frogs, the absolute star is the Regina bean, an indigenous legume cultivated for centuries in the fields around the town. Easily stored and nutritious, it was traditionally served boiled and seasoned with oil, salt, and fresh spring onions, or stewed. At the festival, it can be found in the most traditional dishes, from beans with pork rinds to rustic soups, a testament to a 'cucina povera' that is rich in flavor and memory.

Dining in the square

The food stalls offer an extensive menu that pairs the two signature products with other local specialties. Dishes served include:

• Crispy fried frog and stewed frogs
• Regina beans with pork rinds
• Fettuccine with meat sauce and strozzapreti with tomato sauce
• Country-style trout
• Sausages and roast meat
• Local wine from the Aniene Valley

Music, folklore, and atmosphere

The festival is not just about good food. After dinner, the evening continues with live music, folk performances, and entertainment that bring the ancient alleys of the medieval historic center to life in a welcoming and festive atmosphere. Among the reenactments of the summer amusements of the past, there is also the famous frog race, a lighthearted moment that entertains both adults and children. The festival is also a perfect opportunity to discover the village with a slow stroll through its views, panoramas, and flavors.

A traditional Lazio event

Representing the hinterland of the Lazio Region, the Frog and Regina Bean Festival focuses on ingredients linked to seasonality and rural cuisine. For the Municipality of Agosta, it is the most anticipated summer event, capable of attracting visitors from nearby Tivoli and the entire Aniene Valley, united by the pleasure of a dinner in the square under the August stars.