I Sapori del Borgo

A community festival in the heart of Alta Tuscia

I Sapori del Borgo is the most anticipated food and wine event of the summer in Grotte di Castro, a small town in the Province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. For three consecutive evenings, usually at the end of July, the historic center comes alive with stalls, tables, and stages. This is not a top-down fair, but a festival built by the residents, where every local association manages its own kitchen and space.

The village, of Etruscan origin, overlooks Lake Bolsena from above, in a corner of the Tuscia region where volcanic countryside, caves carved into tuff, and vineyards create an unmistakable landscape. Walking through the center during the event means passing through arches, stairways, and illuminated squares, with the scent of grills and fried food mingling with the music.

The cuisine: lake, forest, and garden

The gastronomic offerings accurately reflect the territory. The local associations bring to the table the dishes that have always been cooked here:

• Lake fish — fish meatballs and fried lake fish in paper cones, prepared by the Pro Loco;
• Grilled meats — mixed grills and sliced steaks prepared by local associations;
• Traditional pasta — wild boar pappardelle and lilleri all'amatriciana, a local pasta shape;
• Fried pizzette and other street food specialties;
• Homemade desserts prepared by the Senior Center;
• Alta Tuscia wines, particularly labels from the Lake Bolsena area.

We must not forget the town's signature product: the Grotte di Castro potato, grown on the volcanic soils of the plateau and even celebrated by a dedicated festival. Here, it is featured as a side dish and ingredient in various preparations.

Music, exhibitions, and markets

From 8:00 PM, the village squares host an entertainment program that changes every night: concerts, folk groups, karaoke nights, swing and rockabilly bands, as well as roaming performances that move from one square to another, involving the public along the way. In recent editions, the streets of the center have also hosted widespread art exhibitions, such as papier-mâché installations displayed outdoors along Via del Progresso.

Accompanying the gastronomic experience are artisan markets and stalls featuring local products from the Viterbo area and surrounding regions: ceramics, handicrafts, preserves, olive oil, and cheeses.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco of Grotte di Castro with the patronage of the Municipality of Grotte di Castro and the support of the Province of Viterbo, in collaboration with local associations. The model is that of a volunteer village festival: it is the citizens, gathered in associations, who cook, set up, and serve.

Why it's worth the trip

I Sapori del Borgo is the best opportunity to discover Grotte di Castro at a leisurely pace: you eat well at popular prices, walk through a well-preserved historic center, and breathe in the authentic atmosphere of a town that tells its story through its cuisine. All this just a few kilometers from the shores of Lake Bolsena and the other villages of the Tuscia region, from Acquapendente to Bolsena and the Bisentina Island.