Petignano Tagliatella Festival

A village festival in the heart of Tuscia

The Petignano Tagliatella Festival is one of the most anticipated summer culinary events in the municipality of Orte, in the province of Viterbo, Lazio. It takes place in the hamlet of Petignano, a small village overlooking the Tiber valley, where for over twenty years the Comitato Borgo di San Lorenzo has organized four evenings dedicated to homemade pasta. In 2025, the event marked its twenty-first edition, a testament to a rare continuity for a festival that began as a simple neighborhood initiative.

Tagliatelle, four sauces, and one golden rule

The signature dish is hand-rolled tagliatelle, prepared daily by the village's volunteer cooks using a rolling pin, following a method that has never changed. It is served in four versions, all deeply rooted in the cuisine of northern Lazio:

• Amatriciana, with guanciale, tomato, and pecorino cheese;
• Truffle, a tribute to the woods of Tuscia;
• Wild boar, with a slow-cooked game ragù;
• San Lorenzo style, the house recipe named after the village.

The menu doesn't stop at pasta: grilled meats are served from the barbecue, while Roman and Lazio traditions are represented by supplì, beans with pork rinds, and Roman-style tripe. There is no shortage of aperitifs, cocktails, and local wines, with outdoor table service running from late afternoon until night.

Music, dancing, and a market

Every evening, the festival is accompanied by live music and dancing: orchestras, bands, and singers take turns on the stage set up in the square, in a format that has made Petignano a well-known stop for dance enthusiasts over time. Along the streets of the village, there is also a flea market featuring vintage items, clothing, minor antiques, and handicrafts, open for the duration of the event. The evenings often conclude with communal celebrations linked to the feast of Saint Lawrence, the village's patron saint.

Orte, gateway to Tuscia

The festival is also a great opportunity to discover Orte, an Etruscan-origin town perched on a tuff spur above the Tiber. The historic center preserves medieval churches, Renaissance palaces, and, above all, the famous system of underground tunnels and cisterns that can be visited with local guides. Its strategic position, just a few kilometers from the border with Umbria and served by a railway station on the Rome-Florence line, makes Orte a convenient base for exploring the Viterbo Tuscia, the Tiber, and nearby villages like Bomarzo, Vasanello, and Amelia.

A popular and accessible event

Entry to the festival area is free: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls, with the affordable prices typical of village festivals. The atmosphere is the familiar one of Lazio festivals, with shared tables, children playing in the square, and families arriving from neighboring towns. For large groups, telephone booking with the Committee is recommended, especially on weekends when attendance is higher.