Orchids of the World (with Orchids in Wine)
The international orchid exhibition that turns a Castelli Romani village into a sprawling garden
About Orchids of the World
A Castelli Romani village turned into an open-air greenhouse
For three days in April, Monte Porzio Catone, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the heart of the Castelli Romani (Lazio), closes its historic center to traffic and lets itself be taken over by orchids. Orchids of the World is not a fair confined to a pavilion: it is a widespread exhibition that occupies the squares, churches, courtyards, cellars, and shops of the village, allowing visitors to discover the town and its panoramic views of the Alban Hills (Vulcano Laziale) while exploring the flowers.
The event was founded in 1996 and has grown to become one of the most anticipated botanical appointments in Lazio, with the 2026 edition marking its twenty-ninth year.
Orchids and exhibitors
The heart of the event lies in the exhibition spaces of the historic center, where nurserymen and collectors present rare species and prized hybrids. Over the years, exhibitors have arrived from various European countries and tropical areas such as Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, and Taiwan, bringing plants rarely seen outside specialized greenhouses.
- Collections from orchid societies, including the Italian Orchid Association and the Lazio Orchid Association
- Direct sales of orchids, azaleas, hydrangeas, and annual plants
- Floral arrangements in the village churches and oratories
Conferences, workshops, and culture
A dense, free cultural program revolves around the plants, designed for both curious visitors and home orchid growers. The schedule features practical workshops (repotting and cultivation techniques), conferences on orchid biology and nomenclature, book presentations, contemporary art exhibitions, and musical events, with concerts even hosted in the nearby Villa Mondragone.
Orchids in Wine
On the same weekend, in Piazza Porzio Catone, the Orchids in Wine event takes place: tasting stands featuring wine producers from the Castelli Romani, from volcanic whites—led by Frascati—to local reds. It is an opportunity to link the botanical exhibition with the winemaking tradition of a town that also houses a Wine Museum, which hosts guided tastings.
Flavors and craftsmanship
Local producers line the streets of the center with wines, local gastronomic specialties, and crafts: sculptors, painters, goldsmiths, and social craft projects bring the shops to life. The result is a stroll that blends scents, colors, and tastings, highly popular with Roman families during spring weekends.
Why it's worth the trip
Monte Porzio Catone is just over twenty kilometers from Rome and is easily accessible by train via Frascati. The combination of an international exhibition, a pedestrianized village, Castelli wines, and free admission makes Orchids of the World a well-established spring outing: you can dedicate half a day to the exhibits and the rest of the time to the wine cellars, viewpoints, and the surrounding Tusculan villas.
Orchids of the World — edition 2026
Orchids of the World 2026 — 29th Edition
From April 10 to 12, 2026, the village of Monte Porzio Catone hosted the twenty-ninth edition of the international orchid exhibition, organized by the Orchids of the World Association with the Iperico Servizi per la Cultura Cooperative and the support of Arsial and the Lazio Region.
Alongside the exhibition spaces in the historic center, open daily from 10:00 AM, the program alternated practical workshops, conferences on the world and nomenclature of orchids, floral arrangements in the oratories, art exhibitions, and music, ranging from polyphonic concerts at Villa Mondragone to baroque repertoire. In Piazza Porzio Catone, the collateral Orchids in Wine event brought together Castelli Romani wine producers with tastings of volcanic whites and local reds.
Programme Orchids of the World 2026
Friday, April 10
- 10:00 AM — Opening of exhibition spaces in the historic center
- 10:00 AM-7:00 PM — Solidarity crafts, Bottega IsoLab (via Diaz 4)
- 10:00 AM-8:00 PM — Art exhibition and workshops, Medina Art Gallery (Piazza del Mercato 9)
- 4:30 PM-6:00 PM — ORCH'estra d'IDEE, Palestra G. Carducci (Piazza Borghese 1)
- 5:00 PM — Ribbon cutting with the Mayor (Piazza Borghese)
- 5:00 PM — Inauguration of Orchids in Wine (Piazza Porzio Catone), until 8:00 PM
- 5:00 PM — The Garden of Easter, Oratorio SS. Sacramento (Piazza Duomo)
- 6:30 PM — «Whites of the Volcano» tasting, Wine Museum (Piazza Trieste 11)
Saturday, April 11
- 10:00 AM — Opening of exhibition spaces
- 11:00 AM — Workshop «Repotting techniques», Agorà (via IV Novembre 18)
- 11:30 AM — Presentation «The Garden of Resurrection», Cathedral of S. Gregorio Magno
- 12:00 PM-8:00 PM — Orchids in Wine (Piazza Porzio Catone)
- 4:00 PM — Conference «The world of orchids», Agorà
- 5:30 PM — Book presentation «Tea and Orchids» by Linda Reali, Agorà
- 6:30 PM — «The Reds» tasting; polyphonic concerts at Villa Mondragone
Sunday, April 12
- 10:00 AM — Conference on orchid nomenclature
- 11:00 AM — Repotting workshop
- 12:00 PM — Meeting «Orchids, medicine for the soul»
- 12:00 PM-8:00 PM — Orchids in Wine (Piazza Porzio Catone)
- 4:00 PM — Cultivation workshop and baroque music
- 6:30 PM — Floral-themed tasting
Highlights Orchids of the World 2026
- 29th edition, dedicated to the memory of president Rosanna Liberatore
- Collections from the Italian Orchid Association and the Lazio Orchid Association
- Orchids in Wine: tasting stands with Castelli Romani producers
- Polyphonic concerts at Villa Mondragone and baroque music
- Historic center closed to traffic, free shuttles from parking A, B, and C and from Frascati FS
Prices Orchids of the World 2026
Practical information — Orchids of the World
When
Three days in April, from Friday to Sunday. The 2026 edition took place from April 10th to 12th.
Admission
Widespread exhibition with free admission. For Orchids in Wine, there is a €10 contribution which includes a glass, a holder, and five tastings.
How to get there
By car via the Via Tuscolana or the A1 motorway (Monteporzio Catone exit), with dedicated parking areas (A, B, and C) connected to the historic center by a free shuttle service. By train to Frascati FS station, from where a shuttle service coordinated with train times is available. The historic center is closed to traffic during the event.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes: the village is hilly and the exhibition is spread across multiple locations. Mornings are best for visiting the exhibitors in peace, while afternoons are perfect for tastings and concerts.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Orchids of the World
Centro storico di Monte Porzio Catone