Pinciarelle Festival

A festival born from a bet

The Pinciarelle Festival is the most iconic gastronomic event in Montecelio, a historic hilltop village that, together with Guidonia, forms the municipality of Guidonia Montecelio, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region. According to local lore, the event began almost as a joke, following a bet between a small group of friends who wanted to share their local dish with the world. Since that first communal table, the festival has grown into a highly anticipated end-of-summer tradition across the Aniene Valley and the Tiburtina area, celebrating its 27th edition in 2025.

What are pinciarelle?

Pinciarelle are a rustic, ancient pasta made from just two ingredients: durum wheat flour and water. The dough is kneaded by hand and "pinciato"—meaning pinched—to create thick, irregular strands, similar to strozzapreti and other traditional hand-formed pastas of Central Italy. Once boiled, the pinciarelle are tossed in fresh tomato sauce and topped with a generous dusting of pecorino romano. Recent editions have also introduced meat-based sauces and vegetable alternatives for those seeking variety.

The festival kitchen is a true collective effort: dozens of volunteers spend days hand-rolling the pasta, while the grill sizzles with sausages, arrosticini, and slices of crusty homemade bread. The meal is completed by local wines from the hills and desserts prepared by the village families.

The village as part of the celebration

The strength of the Pinciarelle Festival lies in its setting. The dining tables are set up in the gardens of Villa San Michele, overlooking the landscape of the Cornicolani Mountains, while the medieval village remains open and vibrant throughout the event. During the festival, you can visit the Rodolfo Lanciani Civic Archaeological Museum, which houses the famous Capitoline Triad—one of the most significant archaeological finds in Lazio—and join guided walks through the alleys, churches, and ruins of ancient Corniculum.

Music, markets, and family fun

• Piano bar and karaoke in the evening, featuring live music and entertainment in the performance area
• Market stalls selling antiques, local crafts, and traditional products along the village route
• Children's play area, making the festival perfect for a family evening out
• Guided tours of the archaeological museum and the historic center, with multiple slots throughout the day
• Free shuttle from the Guidonia plains to the village, a valuable service given the limited parking at the top

A chance to discover the Tiburtina area

Montecelio is located just a few dozen kilometers from Rome and a short distance from Tivoli, home to UNESCO-listed villas, and the thermal baths of Bagni di Tivoli. Attending the festival is the perfect way to combine great food with a trip to a village off the beaten path, where you can dine outdoors in the early September air while overlooking the lights of the Roman countryside. It is one of the most authentic ways to experience how, in Lazio, peasant cuisine remains a communal affair: the pasta is made together, served together, and enjoyed at shared tables.

When it takes place

Traditionally, the festival is held on the first weekend of September, starting on Friday evening and ending on Sunday; some past editions have begun in the final days of August. In 2025, the event took place from September 5th to 7th. For the 2026 edition, it is advisable to check the dates on the channels of the organizing association and the Pro Loco Montecelio before planning your trip.