Octopus and Tiella Festival

Sperlonga's most beloved festival

Every summer, on the second weekend of July, the Municipality of Sperlonga celebrates the flavors of its sea with the Octopus and Tiella Festival, the village's most renowned culinary event. The narrow white streets of the historic center, perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, fill with the aromas of seafood cuisine, folk music, and visitors arriving from across the province of Latina and the rest of Lazio.

Octopus and tiella, symbols of Gulf cuisine

The absolute stars of the festival are two local specialties. The octopus, caught along the Riviera di Ulisse coast, is prepared according to traditional maritime recipes. The tiella is the famous stuffed focaccia typical of the Gulf of Gaeta and the Pontine coast: two thin layers of dough enclosing fillings of seafood—octopus, anchovies, cuttlefish—or vegetables, baked in the namesake tinned copper pan from which the dish takes its name. Originally a humble meal for fishermen, it is now one of the gastronomic flagships of southern Lazio.

A postcard-perfect setting

The festival owes part of its charm to its location: Sperlonga is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, with its maze of whitewashed alleys, arches, and stairways sloping down toward the sea. During the festival, food stalls and entertainment points are scattered among the small squares of the historic center, with the Torre Truglia and the Riviera di Ulisse coastline providing a stunning backdrop. The evening atmosphere, filled with lights, music, and views of the Tyrrhenian, makes the event particularly suitable for couples and travelers seeking authenticity.

Folk music, dancing, and families

Alongside the tastings, the festival program traditionally features live folk music, dancing, and evening shows, as well as games and entertainment designed for children: a formula that makes it a celebration for the whole family, in the tradition of southern Lazio's village festivals.

In the heart of Sperlonga's summer

The Octopus and Tiella Festival effectively kicks off the peak of Sperlonga's summer calendar, which continues in August with the Fish Soup Festival, along with concerts, open-air theater, and cultural initiatives spread throughout the village. For those staying on the Pontine coast between Terracina, Fondi, and Gaeta, the July festival is the ideal opportunity to discover the most genuine face of this corner of Lazio, where seafood cuisine is still a matter of identity and community.