Maremma Laziale Melon Festival

The melon, king of the Maremma summer

The Maremma Laziale Melon Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events on the Viterbo coast. It takes place in Pescia Romana, a seaside hamlet in the municipality of Montalto di Castro, in the province of Viterbo, Northern Lazio. For four days in early July, the Borgo Vecchio becomes a vibrant festival space dedicated to the fruit that has made this agricultural plain overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea famous.

A product that tells the story of a territory

The plain between Montalto di Castro and the border with the Tuscan Maremma is one of the most important melon-growing areas in Central Italy. Sandy soil, a mild climate, and the proximity to the sea give the local melon a recognizable sweetness and fragrance, which local farms showcase at the festival in various forms: from fresh fruit to jams, preserves, ice creams, and even savory pairings with traditional cured meats and local dishes.

What you will find at the festival

• Food stalls featuring Maremma and Lazio cuisine, open every evening in the heart of the village;
• Market exhibition with local farmers, artisans, and stalls selling typical Tuscia products;
• Street performers and buskers wandering through the alleys of the Borgo Vecchio;
• Evening music on the main stage, with concerts and shows featuring free admission;
• Activities for children and families: workshops, traditional games, entertainment, and baby dance.

The atmosphere of the Borgo Vecchio

The 18th-century core of Pescia Romana, with its low houses and small squares, offers an intimate and convivial setting: you can stroll through the stalls at sunset, dine at communal tables, and stay late into the evening for the music. It is a village festival in the most authentic sense, organized by local associations and volunteers, where the connection with the public is direct and prices remain affordable, true to rural tradition.

A well-established tradition

Born in the late 1980s as a harvest celebration, the event has spanned decades of local history, reaching its 37th edition in 2026 and cementing its status as the hamlet's main summer event. Over the years, the program has been enriched with cultural paths dedicated to the history of the territory—from the Etruscan roots of Pescia to modern land reclamation—as well as countryside bike rides and sporting initiatives, without ever losing the gastronomic character that remains its soul.

In the surroundings

The festival is an excellent opportunity to discover the rest of the municipality of Montalto di Castro: the Vulci Naturalistic Archaeological Park, with its Etruscan necropolis and the Devil's Bridge, is just a few kilometers away; the Marina di Montalto and the beaches of Pescia Romana offer long sandy shores; to the north, you quickly enter the Tuscan Maremma, with Capalbio and the Argentario. A weekend in early July in this part of Lazio allows you to combine the sea, Etruscan archaeology, and local cuisine.