Maccheroni a Fezze Festival
The original and authentic handmade pasta festival in a Sabina village
About Maccheroni a Fezze
A festival that defines a village
The Maccheroni a Fezze Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Montenero Sabino, a village of a few hundred inhabitants in the province of Rieti, in the heart of the Lazio Sabina region. Created to showcase a unique dish found almost nowhere else, the event has grown into one of the most recognizable gastronomic festivals in inland Lazio, so much so that the organizers have long claimed it as the "original and authentic" one.
What are maccheroni a fezze?
Maccheroni a fezze are a fresh pasta made from water and flour, rolled and cut by hand into irregular strips—the fezze—following a Montenero recipe passed down through generations. They are prepared by the local fezzarole and fezzaroli, volunteers who spend the festival days kneading hundreds of kilos of flour by hand, without machines: a collective ritual that is a spectacle in itself, which the public can watch live during the show cooking sessions.
The pasta is served with traditional local sauces, particularly ragù and pesto, accompanied by other Sabina peasant dishes and finished with the anise ring cake (ciambella all'anice) of Montenero, the festival's signature dessert.
The village as a stage
The festival does not take place in a tent but in the historic center: stalls and tables are concentrated around Piazza del Municipio, while alleys, arches, and stairways host roving performances, street artists, and markets. Watching over it all is the Orsini Castle, one of the most evocative historic residences in the Rieti area, which is open to visitors during the event and serves as the true symbol of the village.
Music until late at night
Each evening concludes with live concerts in the square: in recent years, popular cover and tribute bands have performed, followed by DJ sets to keep the party going. Entry to the festival area is free, and you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls, following the classic village festival format.
Why it's worth the trip
- Authenticity: Pasta strictly made by hand by local volunteers—no industrial products.
- Setting: An intact medieval village with its own castle, just over an hour from Rome.
- Conviviality: About two thousand attendees per evening, open-air dining, and music until late.
- Territory: The Sabina region, famous for its extra virgin olive oil, picturesque villages, and scenic trails, all waiting to be discovered.
A community project
Behind the event is the Pro Loco of Montenero Sabino, which also organizes the Ferragosto Street Artists Festival, the 'Chitarre e Cantine' singer-songwriter review, and 'Sapore DiVino' tastings at the Orsini Castle throughout the year. However, the festival remains the main event capable of attracting visitors from Rieti, Rome, and nearby Umbria, and today it stands as one of the most successful examples of how a family recipe can become a driving force for regional promotion.
Maccheroni a Fezze — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The Pro Loco of Montenero Sabino confirms the event for Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, 2026, for the 23rd edition of the festival. The headquarters remains Piazza del Municipio, where stalls open from 6:30 PM, while the village streets host markets and roving performances, and the Orsini Castle remains open to visitors.
This year, production is once again impressive: about 300 kilos of flour worked entirely by hand, according to the unique and ancient Montenero recipe. The maccheroni can be tasted in the two traditional versions, with ragù and with pesto, along with other local dishes and the anise ring cake, the festival's signature dessert.
On stage, concerts by the Millenialz Band and the Vasco Rossi tribute band Siamo Solo Noi are announced, accompanying the two evenings with live music until late.
Programme Maccheroni a Fezze 2026
Saturday, July 25, 2026
- From 6:30 PM — Food stalls open in Piazza del Municipio: maccheroni a fezze with ragù and pesto, traditional Sabina dishes, anise ring cake
- Show cooking: handmade preparation of maccheroni a fezze by local volunteers
- Markets and roving performances in the historic center streets
- In the evening — Live concert by the Millenialz Band
Sunday, July 26, 2026
- From 6:30 PM — Food stalls open
- Visits to Orsini Castle and walks in the castle gardens
- Entertainment and roving performances in the village
- In the evening — Concert by the Vasco Rossi tribute band Siamo Solo Noi
The detailed program with final performance times is published by the Pro Loco of Montenero Sabino on its official channels in the days leading up to the event.
Highlights Maccheroni a Fezze 2026
- 23rd edition: about 300 kg of flour kneaded by hand, one by one
- Tasting of maccheroni a fezze with ragù and pesto
- Anise ring cake of Montenero, the festival's typical dessert
- Live concerts: Millenialz Band and Siamo Solo Noi (Vasco Rossi tribute band)
- Roving performances and markets in the historic center
- Orsini Castle open to visitors
Prices Maccheroni a Fezze 2026
Practical information — Maccheroni a Fezze
How to get there
Montenero Sabino is located about 25 km from Rieti and just over 60 km from Rome. By car: take the A1 motorway, exit Ponzano Romano-Soratte, or the Salaria SS4, then follow the provincial roads of Sabina; from Rome, you can also take the Via Nomentana/Salaria. There is no train station in the village: the closest are Rieti and Poggio Mirteto (FL1 line from Rome), from which you must continue by car or Cotral bus.
Hours and prices
Food stalls generally open from 6:30 PM. Admission to the event is free; you only pay for food and drinks at the stalls, with typical village festival prices.
Tips
The historic center is pedestrianized and uphill: comfortable shoes are recommended. Parking is available at the entrance to the village and fills up quickly, so it is best to arrive early. Combine your visit with a tour of the Orsini Castle and a walk through the olive groves of Sabina.
Information
Pro Loco Montenero Sabino, Via Roma 58 — [email protected] — www.prolocomontenerosabino.com
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Where does it take place — Maccheroni a Fezze
Centro storico e Piazza del Municipio
Piazza del Municipio, 02040 Montenero Sabino