Lattarino Festival

A festival born from the lake

In Marta, a small town in the province of Viterbo overlooking Lake Bolsena in the Lazio region, spring concludes with the most anticipated event of the year. The Lattarino Festival was created to celebrate Atherina lacustris, the tiny freshwater fish that local fishermen catch in the volcanic lake waters and which has represented the community's humble, identity-defining dish for generations. This is not a manufactured event: it is the festive expression of a living trade—that of the lake fishermen—who deliver their catch directly to the organizing committee every morning.

The world's largest frying pan

The element that has made the festival famous far beyond the borders of Tuscia is its Guinness World Record pan: three meters in diameter, about ten meters in circumference, capable of holding 1,200 liters of oil. Over just two days of festivities, nearly two tons of lattarini are fried in it, hand-floured and dropped into the boiling oil before the public. The frying process is a spectacle in itself, with volunteers maneuvering oversized shovels and skimmers while the crowd gathers behind the barriers to photograph the scene.

The traditional menu

The menu is fixed and intentionally essential, because the recipe needs no additions. For 15 euros (drinks excluded), you receive:

• fried lattarini, crispy and meant to be eaten whole, head and tail included;
• fried pizza, savory or salt-free, and in a sweet version with sugar;
• bread and lemon, the essential accompaniment to lake fish;
• a heart-shaped ceramic plate, a souvenir of the festival that visitors get to keep.

Surrounding the food stands are a market exhibition of local products and crafts, and a fish stall managed directly by the lake fishermen, where it is possible to purchase freshly caught lattarini and other lake species.

The historical pageant and the band

The gastronomic aspect is complemented by the civic and folkloric component. On Sunday afternoon, the Marta historical pageant parades through the village accompanied by the "E. Montesi" marching band, majorettes, and local authorities, in a procession that showcases the costumes and guilds of the Marta tradition. It is the moment when the festival ceases to be just a food event and becomes a representation of the town's identity.

An all-volunteer organization

The event is organized by the "Alberto Lisoni" Cultural Circle of Marta, a non-profit association that donates the proceeds to local social and charitable initiatives. Cooks, fish cleaners, servers, and cashiers are all local volunteers: the organizational machine starts at dawn, with the washing and preparation of the lattarini beginning around eight in the morning to be ready for the stands' opening.

Marta and Lake Bolsena

The festival is also an opportunity to discover one of the most characteristic villages on Lake Bolsena. Marta retains its profile as a fishing town, with boats pulled ashore along the bank, the harbor, the Clock Tower dominating the town, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte, linked to the famous "Passate" festival in May. The lakefront, where the festival takes place, offers one of the most open views of the largest volcanic lake in Europe, with the Bisentina and Martana islands on the horizon.

When to go

The festival traditionally takes place between the end of May and the beginning of June, often coinciding with the June 2nd long weekend, and in recent years it has been extended specifically to accommodate the influx of visitors. It is advisable to arrive well in advance of the opening times: queues form quickly, especially on weekend evenings.