Pizza Costarola Festival

A pizza named after its home

You won't find Pizza Costarola in national cookbooks; it is a homemade specialty, born and raised in the Le Coste district, on the outskirts of Montefiascone in the province of Viterbo. The base is a simple dough of water and soft wheat flour, rolled out thin; it is topped with Valle Perlata potatoes sliced almost transparently, pork sausage, and mozzarella. After baking, it is finished with a handful of fresh raw parsley, which adds a touch of freshness to an otherwise hearty dish. It is the kind of recipe passed down through families, emerging from private kitchens once a year to become a community celebration.

Who organizes it

The festival is organized by the San Pancrazio Martire Festival Committee, the same group that manages the town's patronal feast and the historic Sweet Raviolo Festival. This committee of about fifteen volunteers handles everything: dough preparation, ovens, table service, and setting up the square. The initiative is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Montefiascone and is traditionally included in the city's summer calendar.

The location

The festival is held in the square next to the Corpus Domini parish church in the Le Coste district, and in some years, it utilizes the parish hall. The location is no coincidence: we are exactly at the 100km marker of the Via Francigena, with a sweeping view of Lake Bolsena that is worth the visit alone at sunset. In recent editions, the event has also expanded toward the town center to accommodate larger crowds.

How the evening unfolds

Stands open in the evening, around 7:30 PM. Dining takes place at outdoor tables: in addition to the Costarola, you will typically find various other pizzas and kid-friendly options like hot dogs and fries. The bar serves local beer and wines, in a region with a prestigious oenological reputation thanks to the Est! Est!! Est!!! DOC of Montefiascone. Live music accompanies the evening until late, while inflatable play areas and traditional games are set up for children.

A village festival in the best sense

The scale remains intentionally modest: in recent years, attendance has been around three hundred people per night. It is exactly the type of event that keeps the districts of Lazio alive: no spectacular ambitions, just great care, affordable prices, and the pleasure of coming together. For visitors, it is the most direct way to understand the cuisine of the Tuscia Viterbese region, defined by potatoes, simple flours, pork, and garden vegetables.

What to see nearby

• The Rocca dei Papi in Montefiascone, with its panoramic view of Lake Bolsena.
• The Basilica of San Flaviano, a two-level church located along the Via Francigena.
• The cellars of the Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC.
• The shores of Lake Bolsena, with the beaches of Marta and Capodimonte.

When to go

Historically, the festival was held in July, but it has since settled into a window between the end of August and the beginning of September. In 2024, the eighth edition took place on August 31st and September 1st, while in 2025, the ninth edition spanned three evenings, from August 29th to 31st. Dates are announced by the Committee and the Municipality of Montefiascone a few weeks in advance, usually through municipal channels and local Tuscia press.