Mountain Festival

The alpini's high-altitude feast

The Mountain Festival is one of the most cherished summer events in Matelica, in the province of Macerata, in the heart of the Marche region. Organized by the Gruppo Alpini Val Potenza along with former and retired forest rangers, the event brings the community to high altitude for two days, on the Prati del San Vicino (San Vicino Meadows), the wide plateau that opens up at the foot of Monte San Vicino, between the municipalities of Matelica, Gagliole, and Castelraimondo.

In 2026, the festival will reach its 22nd edition: a milestone that speaks to the dedication of an event born from the alpini's passion for the mountains, for conviviality, and for community traditions. It's not a large tourist-drawing festival, but an authentic celebration, made of people, songs, and shared meals, which attracts campers from various regions of Italy every year.

Between food, polenta, and music

The heart of the festival is the alpine food (rancio alpino), the large communal meal that brings together over a hundred participants outdoors, under the sky of the San Vicino Meadows. Polenta is the queen of the table, served on Saturday evening with the arrival of numerous campers who come up for the occasion. It's a simple and genuine moment of celebration, attended by local authorities and representatives of the National Alpini Association.

Sunday morning is dedicated to the more solemn and musical part: the Matelica town band ascends to the meadows for the traditional Concert in the Mountains, while mass is celebrated, a procession in honor of the Madonna takes place, and historical prizes related to the event are awarded. All this in an atmosphere that blends spirituality, alpine memory, and popular celebration.

An event rooted in the territory

The Mountain Festival is held under the patronage of the Municipalities of Matelica and Castelraimondo and involves mayors and administrators from neighboring municipalities each year, as well as regional leaders of the alpini. It is included in the official calendar of summer events promoted by the Pro Matelica Association, testifying to the role this festival plays in Matelica's summer.

For those visiting the inland Marche region, the festival is also the perfect opportunity to discover Monte San Vicino and its high-altitude meadows, one of the most evocative natural areas of the Macerata Apennines, ideal for excursions, picnics, and walks through beech forests and pastures.