Madonna di Collemezzo Festival (Mountain Festival)

A festival you reach on foot

Some festivals are celebrated in the town square, while others must be earned by climbing. The Madonna di Collemezzo Festival, which everyone in Montelanico simply calls the Mountain Festival, belongs to the latter category. Every year, traditionally on the first Sunday of August, residents and visitors leave the narrow streets of the historic center and head toward the plateau, where a small chapel houses the image of the Madonna di Collemezzo.

We are in the heart of the Lepini Mountains, in the province of Rome, Lazio: a territory of dense forests, high-altitude pastures, and ancient ridge trails, just over seventy kilometers from the capital but in a world completely different in rhythm and landscape.

The path to the chapel

The route described by the Municipality of Montelanico starts from the village and takes the road toward the Campo di Montelanico area. After about two kilometers, you reach Croce Scaccia, a junction with the path that led to the Collemezzo Castle in the Middle Ages, of which only evocative ruins remain today.

From here, the trail climbs through a forest of oaks and holm oaks, gaining elevation steadily. The path then reaches Pantana Camenardo, a historic watering hole still used today for livestock raised in Campo di Montelanico, and finally arrives at the Madonna di Collemezzo chapel, the devotional destination of the day.

The panorama, an integral part of the festival

During the ascent, the view opens up progressively. You can spot the village of Montelanico nestled on the slope, the peak of Monte Lupone, the Punta dei Briganti, and, in the distance, the wide Sacco River valley. On clear days in early August, the breathtaking view is well worth the effort.

• Departure from the center of Montelanico toward Campo di Montelanico
• Croce Scaccia, junction of the ancient medieval trail
• Uphill forest of oaks and holm oaks
• Pantana Camenardo, an ancient watering hole still in use
• Madonna di Collemezzo Chapel

Devotion, pasture, and community

The festival is more than just a hike. It is the moment when the Montelanico community reaffirms its bond with the mountains: an ancient bond built on shepherding, timber, and seasonal transhumance to high pastures. The chapel is where this material history meets the religious dimension in an open-air celebration that captures the spirit of traditional peasant festivals.

Since 2023, the plateau has also been home to the Peace Bench, one of the large panoramic benches that have become popular throughout Italy: an additional attraction for those who climb to the heights even outside of the festival day.

Montelanico, a village of the Lepini

The village hosting the festival deserves a visit before or after your hike. Montelanico is a small center of winding alleys opening onto small squares with fountains and churches, Roman remnants visible in the stone walls and arches, and some spots beloved by the locals: the Fontana dei Putti by sculptor Ernesto Biondi, the Santuario della Madonna del Soccorso with its 15th-century fresco, and the Jo Rifugio museum dedicated to the Second World War.

The local calendar is marked by other traditional events, from the Madonna SS. del Soccorso Festival to the St. Michael the Archangel Festival, and the historic Chestnut Festival in October, organized by the Pro Loco. However, the Mountain Festival remains the event most intimately tied to the landscape.

Who is it for?

The climb is suitable for moderately fit walkers, but it remains a mountain hike: proper footwear, water, and starting in the cool morning hours are common-sense recommendations, especially in August. It is a day well-suited for families accustomed to walking and for those seeking an authentic experience far from the large summer events in Lazio.