Palio dei Fontanili

A battle from 846 comes to life in the Roman Countryside

The Palio dei Fontanili is the grand historical re-enactment of Testa di Lepre, an agricultural village in the Municipality of Fiumicino, in the province of Rome, Lazio. The event brings to life a specific episode of local history: in the year 846, Saracens landed at the mouth of the Arrone River, near Fregene, and local farmers were called upon to form the so-called Peasant Militias, securing a victory that remains etched in the collective memory of the Roman Countryside.

The festival's name refers to the fontanili (springs), the water sources that were the primary resource for this agricultural territory for centuries: settlements formed around them, building the rural identity that the event celebrates.

The four districts and the 'rotoloni' race

The competitive heart of the Palio lies in the village's four districts — Borgo, Malvicina, Prataroni, and Colonnacce — which challenge each other in a series of traditional games and skill trials throughout the festival week. The final ranking is decided by the characteristic rotoloni race, a spectacular and fun competition that awards the Palio banner to the winning district.

Before the decisive challenge, the village fills with performers in period costumes: captains, ladies, knights, farmers, soldiers, pages, musicians, and jugglers accompany the public through the streets, with the historical pageant set against the natural backdrop of the houses and squares of Testa di Lepre. Over the years, the event has also hosted flag-wavers, western-style gymkhanas, vintage car rallies, and foot races.

Music, shows, and evenings in the square

Alongside the historical aspect, the Palio dei Fontanili offers a rich evening calendar: the contest for emerging bands, which in recent editions has opened the week with semi-finals and a grand finale, and shows featuring guests from the Roman entertainment scene in the final days. Craft exhibitions, entertainment, and games for children complete a program designed for the whole family.

The flavors of the Roman Countryside

Dining is an integral part of the festival. The Pro Loco food stand offers traditional Lazio rural dishes, starting with the famous Palio fettuccine, prepared with Saragolla wheat grown and milled locally, and grilled meats. In 2025, the panbacchio was also introduced, a gourmet sandwich made with lamb meat.

Why it's worth the trip

• An authentic historical re-enactment, organized and carried out by the volunteers of the Pro Loco Testa di Lepre APS, under the patronage of the Municipality of Fiumicino.
• A little-known village in the Roman Countryside, just a few kilometers from Fiumicino Airport and Rome.
• Popular gastronomy at affordable prices and a village atmosphere far from mass tourism circuits.
• A program that combines history, sport, live music, and popular traditions in a single week in September.

A well-established event

Born in 2018, the event has grown edition after edition to become one of the defining events of the Fiumicino hinterland. The seventh edition is announced for 2026, kicking off on Sunday, September 6: an opportunity to discover a side of Lazio made of countryside, springs, and collective memory, just minutes from the sea of Fregene and Maccarese.