Historical Re-enactment of the Grottaferrata Fair (September Fair)

An ancient fair reborn at the foot of the Abbey

In Grottaferrata, in the heart of the Castelli Romani and just a few kilometers from Rome, September has always been the month of celebration. Alongside the festivities for San Nilo, the city's patron saint and founder, stands the Historical Re-enactment of the Grottaferrata Fair, also known as the September Fair: a faithful reconstruction of the market that, for centuries, was held for the Nativity of Mary, attracting merchants, artisans, and farmers from across the region.

The event takes place in the moat of the Greek Abbey of San Nilo, one of the most evocative settings in the Lazio region. The walls of the Basilian monastery provide a natural backdrop for a 19th-century market reconstructed in minute detail, where every stall is run by volunteers in period dress.

Who organizes it

The event is produced by the Ce Steva 'Na Vota cultural association—whose name in the local dialect means "once upon a time"—promoted by the Grottaferrata municipal administration and supported by the Lazio Regional Museum Directorate and the Abbey of San Nilo. The association is led by president Roberta D'Eramo, who coordinates dozens of volunteers every year in preparing costumes, sets, and scenes of daily life.

What to see

• Historical pageant in costume along Corso del Popolo, featuring the "Leone Rampante" flag-wavers from Cori;
• Ancient craft workshops: live demonstrations of traditional trades and customs, from spinning to woodworking;
• Artisan market with local exhibitors and, in some editions, artisans from the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna;
• Traditional gastronomy: the fritter stand, the traditional evening bean stew, and typical products of the Castelli Romani;
• Folk music and dance evenings in the moat with local folk groups.

A community ritual

More than just a tourist show, the re-enactment is a moment of identity for the town. Families from Grottaferrata have participated for generations, lending clothes, objects, and memories. The result is an authentic atmosphere where the line between audience and performers blurs. The inauguration, with the blessing of the Abbey's archimandrite and the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Mayor, officially opens days of festivities that continue until the evening.

Grottaferrata and the Castelli Romani

The city, located in the province of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio region), is famous for its Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata, founded in 1004 by San Nilo of Rossano and the only Italo-Greek monastery still active in Italy. Grottaferrata is also home to a long tradition of fairs: the National Fair of Grottaferrata, held in spring, is among the oldest in Italy. The September re-enactment tells of its more popular and rural soul.

A visit to the event can easily be combined with a tour of the historic center, the discovery of the Ovidio catacombs, and a stop at the fraschette (traditional taverns) of the Castelli, where you can taste porchetta, local cheeses, and wine from the Colli Albani.