Lariano Porcini Mushroom Festival

A festival that defines a town's identity

On the slopes of the Lepini Mountains, amidst the chestnut groves surrounding the town, the porcini mushroom is more than just a forest treasure: it is the very symbol of Lariano, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. This is the origin of the Porcini Mushroom Festival, established in 1991 and grown over the decades into one of the most renowned food and wine showcases in the Castelli Romani area. In 2026, the event returns to the historic center, in Piazza Sant'Eurosia, organized directly by the Municipality of Lariano.

The porcini in all its forms

The heart of the festival remains the table. Food stalls offer porcini mushrooms prepared in every traditional Lariano and Lazio style: hand-rolled fettuccine, gnocchi, creamy risottos, steaming soups, meat dishes accompanied by sautéed mushrooms, and the famous grilled porcini sandwich, one of the most sought-after dishes of the entire event.

• Fettuccine and gnocchi with porcini mushrooms, prepared according to local tradition
• Lariano sourdough bread, one of the most renowned breads in Lazio, baked in wood-fired ovens
• Castelli Romani wines and local extra virgin olive oil
• Typical desserts and artisanal baked goods

Beyond gastronomy

The festival has always been a market exhibition and a meeting place: craft stalls, local agricultural producers, and exhibitors of regional excellence animate the streets around the square. Evenings are dedicated to live music, shows, and family entertainment, in an atmosphere of a village fair that stands the test of time. The audience is typical of the great September festivals in Lazio: families, groups of friends, Romans on a day trip, and curious visitors from all over the province.

The context: two festivals in 2026

The 2026 edition comes after a major turning point in the event's history. The association that had organized the event for over thirty years decided to move its edition outside the municipal territory, to the Pratoni del Vivaro in the municipality of Velletri, due to space requirements. The Municipality of Lariano then chose to bring the festival back to its birthplace, reorganizing it directly in Piazza Sant'Eurosia. As Mayor Francesco Montecuollo stated, it is about keeping "the promise made to the citizens of Lariano" and preserving a "cultural and identity heritage to be protected and enhanced." Those visiting Lariano in September 2026 will therefore find the festival in the town center, in a more intimate and local version compared to the large trade-fair editions of recent years.

Why visit

Lariano is just over forty kilometers from Rome and is easily reached in a day. The festival is the ideal opportunity to discover a less-traveled corner of the Castelli Romani, among chestnut woods, hiking trails of the Castelli Romani Park, and a genuine gastronomic tradition. Those arriving in the evening will find the square illuminated, the scent of grilled mushrooms, and that simple conviviality that is the hallmark of Lazio's village festivals.