Laina and Chickpea Festival

A festival that feels like home

The Laina and Chickpea Festival is one of the most cherished food events in the lower Ciociaria region. It takes place in Selvacava, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Ausonia, in the province of Frosinone, nestled in the heart of southern Lazio at the foot of the Aurunci Mountains. Organized with passion by the Gruppo D'Amici di Selvacava, the event transforms Piazzale degli Eroi every summer into a large open-air dining hall, where residents, returning emigrants, and tourists gather around a dish that tells the story of the land.

Laina, the queen of the table

The absolute star is laina, a handmade fresh pasta rolled out with a rolling pin and cut into wide strips, dressed with a savory chickpea sauce. It is a humble, ancient dish typical of Ausonia and the lower Ciociaria, with roots deep in the peasant cuisine of the past. During the festival, the laina is served, as tradition dictates, in a characteristic terracotta bowl and accompanied by a good glass of local wine. Alongside the main dish, the stalls offer sandwiches with various delicacies and ice-cold beer for a simple, genuine dinner celebrating local flavors.

Music, conviviality, and flavors

The Laina and Chickpea Festival is not just about food: every evening is enlivened by live music, with bands and groups accompanying the dinner and keeping the square dancing until late. The atmosphere is typical of a village feast: joy, sharing, and the desire to be together. Service generally begins at 8:00 PM, when the stalls open and the aroma of freshly prepared laina fills Piazzale degli Eroi.

A village to discover

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Ausonia and its hamlet of Selvacava, an authentic corner of Ciociaria tucked between the Aurunci mountains and the Garigliano valley. The village preserves a historical and natural heritage still largely untouched by mass tourism, which pairs perfectly with the warm hospitality of its people. Attending the Laina and Chickpea Festival means experiencing an evening of genuine folk tradition, far from the most crowded tourist circuits, and taking home the taste of a dish that represents the identity of an entire territory.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally held in the first days of August in the Piazzale degli Eroi in Selvacava. The 2025 edition took place on August 2nd and 3rd. Dates and the program for the following edition are announced by the Gruppo D'Amici di Selvacava on their official social media channels a few weeks in advance.