Le Cantine de 'na Vota

A day inside the Borgo Castello

Le Cantine de 'na Vota is the most iconic food and wine event in Roccasecca, a town in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of the Lazio region's Ciociaria area. For one autumn Sunday, the Borgo Castello — the fortified medieval core overlooking the Liri Valley — sheds its quiet atmosphere and fills with the aromas of home cooking, lively chatter, and music. The name, in the local dialect, simply means "the cellars of yesteryear" and perfectly captures the spirit of the festival: reopening the authentic cellars carved beneath the village houses for a day to share the conviviality of times past.

Twenty-seven stations among alleys and squares

The route winds on foot through the narrow streets, alleys, and largari (small squares) of the village. In recent editions, the Pro Loco has set up twenty-seven tasting stations, each dedicated to a different specialty: visitors move from one cellar to the next, sampling a unique dish or glass of wine without ever repeating. It is an itinerant format that works perfectly because it encourages exploration, leading guests up and down the village paths to discover every hidden corner.

Roccasecca's cuisine

The absolute star is the local peasant cuisine, the kind found in the farmhouses of Ciociaria: handmade pasta, legumes, wild greens, local meats and cured products, and simple baked desserts. Everything is paired with local wines, which play a central role in the event — it is no coincidence that the festival was born from the cellars themselves. A dedicated wine tasting tour was also offered at the House of Saint Thomas, by reservation.

History, Saint Thomas, and guided tours

Roccasecca is the birthplace of Saint Thomas Aquinas, born here in 1225: this is one of the elements that makes the day more than just a simple food festival. During the event, guided tours of the medieval village are organized, led by local storytellers who share anecdotes, legends, and hidden treasures of the town, with a special focus on sites linked to the saint and the remains of the Counts of Aquino castle.

Music, markets, and families

• Live music throughout the village all day long, featuring local bands and singers
• Craft markets and local products along the route
• Children's entertainment, with a dedicated service organized by the Pro Loco
• Entertainment and commentary provided by local associations and radio stations

Twenty years of the festival

In 2025, Le Cantine de 'na Vota reached the milestone of its twentieth edition. The Pro Loco of Roccasecca, which organizes it with the support of the Municipality of Roccasecca and the Lazio Region, describes it not just as a festival but as "a true project for the enhancement of the tangible and intangible heritage" of the area: the Borgo Castello, its cellars, the dialect, and family recipes. Twenty years later, it remains one of the most popular autumn events in the Liri Valley.

When to go

The event is traditionally held on a Sunday in late October, with the village walk starting in the late morning and food stands opening around 11:00 AM. As it is an outdoor event in a stone village, the weather can be a factor: in 2025, the date was postponed by a few weeks due to adverse forecasts. It is therefore advisable to check the final date with the Pro Loco before planning your trip.