Italia Grape Festival and Pincinelle Festival

A rural celebration in the heart of the Castelli Romani

The Italia Grape Festival and Pincinelle Festival is the most anticipated autumn event in Colonna, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, nestled between the Castelli Romani and the Colli Prenestini. Every year in early October, the village transforms into a vibrant trail of flavors and traditions centered around Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and the alleys of the historic center, under the evocative theme Once upon a time in Colonna.

Two festivals in one: Italia grapes and pincinelle

The event combines two distinct yet inseparable celebrations. The Italia Grape Festival, the older of the two, pays tribute to the region's winemaking heritage and specifically the Italia grape, a sweet and fragrant table variety native to these hills. The Pincinelle Festival celebrates the town's signature dish: pincinelle are a handmade fresh pasta born from peasant cooking, traditionally kneaded with stale bread and served with an amatriciana sauce. Together, the two festivals tell the story of Colonna's agricultural and rural memory.

The food and wine trail

The heart of the festival is the food and wine tour that winds through the historic center. At various stations set up along the village streets, visitors can enjoy a full menu including appetizers, fettuccine with porcini mushrooms, pincinelle all'amatriciana, a selection of main courses with sides, and dry pastries, all paired with local wines from the Colli. Alongside the main trail, there are also stalls featuring local products and Colonna specialties.

Music, folklore, and entertainment

The three days are filled with a rich entertainment program: live concerts with local and regional artists, marching bands, street performers, traditional Roman folk singers, majorettes, and flag-wavers. For children, there are traditional games, workshops, and a treasure hunt, while evenings conclude with musical performances and DJ sets in the squares.

A village to discover

Visiting the festival is also the perfect opportunity to explore Colonna, one of the most charming and intimate villages in the Roman area, overlooking the Colli Prenestini countryside and located just a short distance from other Castelli Romani towns. The event, organized by the Pro Loco Colonna Association, offers free admission; only the gastronomic tour requires payment, while shows and entertainment are free and open to everyone.