Mortadella Party

A festival born around a cured meat

The Mortadella Party is one of the youngest and most delightful food festivals on the summer calendar in the province of Frosinone. Born in Pastena, a small village of just over 1,400 inhabitants nestled in the heart of the Ciociaria region, the event has grown with each edition to become a staple of late June. The initial idea is disarmingly simple: take mortadella, the so-called pink queen of cured meats, and build two evenings of conviviality in the town square around it.

The event was strongly promoted by the Il Falco Association of Pastena, which has managed its organization from the very beginning. The first editions were known as the Mortadella Festival; over time, the formula solidified, and the name evolved into the more direct and playful Mortadella Party.

Piazza Porta Roma, the heart of the festival

Everything takes place in Piazza Porta Roma, the square that marks the historic entrance to the village. For two nights, the square is set up with tables, benches, and food stalls: guests sit wherever they find a spot, creating that unmistakable atmosphere of local village festivals where no reservations are needed and dinner quickly becomes an opportunity to meet new people.

Mortadella is served in every possible way:

• the classic sandwich, generously stuffed and eaten on the go;
• the charcuterie board, with thinly sliced mortadella accompanied by other local products;
• fried pizza, a specialty that combines warm dough with the sweetness of the cured meat;
• various creative proposals from the stalls, ranging from snacks to unique tastings.

Alongside the food, there is always music: in past editions, the evenings have been animated by DJ sets and live performances, with music, shows, and entertainment keeping the crowd company until late at night.

Pastena, the village hosting the event

Attending the Mortadella Party is also a great reason to discover Pastena, one of the most evocative villages in southern Lazio. The town is best known for the Caves of Pastena, a karst complex discovered in 1926 by Baron Carlo Franchetti and opened to tourism the following year: one of the most visited underground routes in the region, featuring small lakes, waterfalls, and chambers with spectacular concretions.

The historic center, perched and compact, preserves stone alleys, arches, and scenic views over the valley. Pastena is also the village of the Mamma Ciociara, the statue that honors the women of the Ciociaria region. Those arriving in the late afternoon have plenty of time for a stroll through the village before sitting down to eat.

A staple of the Ciociarian calendar

The Mortadella Party fits into a local calendar rich in food and wine events: Pastena also hosts the historic Cherry Festival, which has been running for nearly eighty years, and the province of Frosinone offers festivals and patron saint feasts throughout the summer. Compared to other more structured events, the Mortadella Party has maintained a deliberately informal, village-style dimension, which is the main reason for its success.

Why it's worth visiting

It is a festival that doesn't promise massive crowds or high-profile headliners: it promises a summer evening in the square, simple and well-made food, affordable prices, and a village to explore on foot. For those seeking the 'real' Italy—where festivals are still organized by volunteer associations and the town square is everyone's living room—the Mortadella Party in Pastena is exactly that.