Hunter's Festival

A festival celebrating the hunting traditions of the Lazio Maremma

The Hunter's Festival is a staple of the summer season in Tarquinia Lido, the seaside district of Tarquinia, in the province of Viterbo. For two consecutive evenings, Piazzale Europa comes alive with food stalls, exhibitors, and open-air seating: a true village festival by the sea, dedicated to game cooking and the hunting culture that has always defined the countryside of the Lazio Maremma.

The origins: from the Sparatori del Cristo Risorto

The event was born in August 2023 at the initiative of the Gli Sparatori di Tarquinia association, a group founded by members of the Sparatori del Cristo Risorto, who are central to one of the city's most iconic traditions: the blank shots that accompany the Tarquinia Easter procession. The first edition, held in collaboration with the local branch of Federcaccia, was an immediate success, becoming a permanent fixture on the summer calendar: the second edition took place in August 2024, and the fourth arrived in July 2026.

Game cuisine

The heart of the festival is its gastronomy. The stalls offer the signature dishes of local hunting tradition, including:

• hare fettuccine with mushrooms;
• wild boar stew with porcini mushrooms;
• alternative options for those who do not eat game;
• local wines to pair with the meal.

A simple, generous cuisine that tells the story of the deep bond between the community of Tarquinia and its surrounding countryside.

Beyond the table

In various editions, the festival has also hosted specialized exhibitors and traders from the hunting sector, a virtual shooting simulator, a Federcaccia stand, and opportunities for discussion and debate on hunting and wildlife management. It is a way to introduce this world to outsiders in a festive and convivial atmosphere.

A charitable festival

The event also has a charitable soul: the proceeds from the first edition were entirely donated to the local delegation of the Italian Red Cross for the purchase of a defibrillator for the area.

Tarquinia, between the sea and the Etruscans

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Tarquinia, a city in the Lazio region world-famous for the UNESCO-listed Etruscan necropolis of Monterozzi and its medieval historic center, rich in towers and Romanesque churches. The Municipality of Tarquinia enlivens the coast every summer with a busy calendar of events, and the Hunter's Festival has become a highly anticipated stop: just a few steps from the beach, amidst the aroma of game sauces and chatter in the square, you can breathe in the authentic atmosphere of the popular festivals of Tuscia.