I Vicoli dell'Arte e dei Sapori

A village telling its story through its alleys

Clinging to the slopes of the Sabini Mountains, in the heart of inland Lazio, the village of Cottanello, in the province of Rieti, guards a rare treasure: the red marble extracted from its quarries, used in the 17th century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for dozens of columns in the interior colonnade of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, as well as in churches such as Sant'Agnese in Agone and Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. It is around this identity of stone and art that "I Vicoli dell'Arte e dei Sapori" revolves, the event that brings life back to the town's historic centre every year.

Art, craftsmanship, and taste

The festival, held since at least 2015, transforms the narrow stone streets of the village into a widespread route where different souls coexist. On one hand, craftsmanship and artistic trades, with workshops opening their doors and artisans giving demonstrations; on the other, the gastronomy of the Sabina territory, served in food and wine taverns set up along the alleys. The backdrop is provided by live music, performances, and guided tours of the medieval centre and its most characteristic corners.

Bernini's marble on stage

Over the years, the event has taken on a strong cultural focus. The 2025 edition, held on August 13th and 14th, was dedicated to the theme "Bernini's Marble" with the itinerant theatrical show "Sante Ghetti. The Visionary Master and the Marble of Cottanello": a narrative that retraced the 17th-century feat of transporting marble columns from the Sabina quarries to the Tiber and Rome, highlighting the figure of master Sante Ghetti and the genius of the Roman Baroque of Bernini and Borromini. The initiative is organised by the Associazione Culturale Art@ - Progetto Kamaleontis, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cottanello and the support of the Lazio Region.

An authentic Sabina village

Visiting Cottanello during the festival means discovering a little-known corner of Lazio: the famous Hermitage of San Cataldo, carved into the rock and declared a Natural Monument along with the red marble, the Roman villa, and the views over the Sabini Mountains. "I Vicoli dell'Arte e dei Sapori" is the ideal opportunity to combine culture, good food, and walks through history and nature, in one of the most welcoming communities in the Rieti province.

Useful information

• Where: historic centre of Cottanello (RI), Lazio
• When: traditionally in August (in the past also in May, for the feast of San Cataldo)
• Organisation: Associazione Culturale Art@ - Progetto Kamaleontis, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cottanello
• Admission: main events are free of charge