Osterie dei Pozzi

A festival in the oldest district of Rieti

The Osterie dei Pozzi has become a staple of the Rieti summer. Every year, towards the end of August, the Pozzi district—the oldest neighborhood in the historic center of Rieti, the provincial capital in northern Lazio—fills with long tables, lights, and music for three nights of festivities. The natural stage is Via dei Pozzi, the narrow street that slopes down toward the Velino River, where the district's ancient cellars and warehouses reopen their doors to become pop-up taverns.

The event is organized by the Sunshine APS Association with the patronage and collaboration of the Municipality of Rieti, which in recent years has included the Pozzi district in a "Distributed Museum" project aimed at promoting this corner of the city year-round.

The taverns and Rieti cuisine

The culinary heart of the event remains local cuisine. At the stations set up along the street, traditional dishes from the Rieti and Sabina areas are served, accompanied by wines and extra virgin olive oil from Sabina, one of the province's most iconic products. Each year, the organizers also offer a special dish dedicated to the district, designed to reflect the year's theme: recent editions have ranged from tributes to vinyl records to street art-inspired cuisine.

• Traditional Rieti and Sabina recipes served in the district's taverns
• A "signature" dish created specifically for the current edition
• Local wines and typical Sabina products
• Outdoor seating along the entire length of Via dei Pozzi

Street artists, music, and atmosphere

Beyond the food, the soul of the festival is its pervasive live entertainment. In recent editions, the program has focused heavily on street artists: mimes, fire-eaters, jugglers, and stilt-walkers roam the alleys, creating intimate encounters with the public rather than static performances. Live music accompanies the evenings until late, with a special focus on local bands and musicians from the Rieti area.

The result is an atmosphere that is anything but rigid: you can stroll, stop for a bite to eat, watch a circus act just a few meters away, and keep moving. It is a formula that works just as well for families as it does for young people, and it is one of the reasons why the event has continued to grow year after year.

Discovering underground Rieti

One of the most popular offerings is the series of free guided tours organized during the festival. The route covers the historic palaces of the center and, above all, Underground Rieti—the system of Roman rooms and structures preserved beneath the current city level. It is a simple way to understand why Rieti is, not without reason, called the "center of Italy." Tours depart in the late afternoon and have limited spots, so it is best to inquire in advance.

Why visit

The Osterie dei Pozzi is no ordinary food festival. It is an opportunity to see a often-overlooked neighborhood come back to life, with its wells, arches, and descent toward the Velino. Visitors from outside the region will find, in a single evening, the cuisine of Sabina, street art, and a walk through the historic center of a city that is still best explored at a leisurely pace. For tourists exploring inland Lazio—between the Franciscan Holy Valley, Lake Salto, and the Reatini Mountains—it is an evening stop that is well worth the trip.