Laina e Fasuri Festival

A festival born to preserve a humble dish

The Laina e Fasuri Festival is the most iconic event in Vallemaio, a village of a few hundred inhabitants perched in the Valle dei Santi, at the southern tip of the Frosinone province in southern Lazio. Created by the Pro Loco Vallemaio association, the event takes place every year on the last weekend of June and celebrates its 14th edition in 2026. After a decade of traditional editions from 2010 to 2019, the Pro Loco even devised a "virtual festival" during the health crisis—a project approved and funded by the Lazio Region to ensure this culinary heritage continued to be shared.

Laina e fasuri: flavors of the past

The dish that gives the festival its name is the emblem of local peasant culture: laina is a homemade pasta, prepared with flour milled using traditional techniques and rolled by hand, seasoned with Atina DOP cannellini beans and garden-fresh tomato sauce. It is a simple, "poor" dish passed down through generations that encapsulates the ancient skills of Vallemaio's housewives; a version with chickpeas, "laina e cici," also exists. The food stalls also offer other local specialties: marzoline (Ciociaria goat cheeses), arrosticini, fried pizzas, and stuffed sandwiches, all paired with Atina Cabernet DOC, Esperia Raspato Nero IGT, and craft beer.

Folk music and lively alleys

The festival is about more than just food. On Saturday evening, Piazza Umberto I hosts the Folklore Festival, featuring concerts of traditional music linked to local history and farming roots, while Sunday's stage hosts shows and tribute bands. The alleys of the historic center feature re-enactments of ancient crafts, displays by "unknown artists" and hobbyists, and a craft market: a journey that transforms the entire village into a widespread celebration.

A village to discover

During the event, the most evocative sites in Vallemaio remain open for visitors: the former Castle Church, the Rosary Church, the Museum of Shadows, and the small Santa Lucia Chapel. It is the perfect opportunity to discover a corner of Ciociaria off the beaten path, offering views over the Garigliano Valley and historical memories linked to the events of World War II, which left a deep mark on these lands along the Gustav Line.

A community celebration

The organization is the result of a solid local network: the Pro Loco of Vallemaio works alongside the XIX Mountain Community "L'Arco degli Aurunci" of Esperia, the Municipality of Vallemaio, and local businesses and associations. The result is a genuine, family-friendly festival where the signature dish becomes a pretext to tell the story of an inland Lazio community.