Pizza Festival (Villa Franceschini)

The Pizza Festival in Contigliano

In the heart of the Reatine Sabina, the village of Contigliano (Province of Rieti, Lazio) hosts the Pizza Festival every summer, one of the most beloved local food festivals in the area. The stage is the lush Parco di Villa Franceschini, which transforms into a large open-air restaurant animated by music and good company. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is the authentic, no-frills vibe of a traditional Lazio village feast.

The Absolute Star: Pizza

The queen of the festival is, naturally, the freshly baked pizza, prepared on-site and served hot at the tables set up in the park. Alongside the pizzas, the food stalls offer a rich and varied menu: arrosticini, sausage sandwiches, French fries, and other popular local specialties, all accompanied by draft beer, cold drinks, and coffee. The stalls open every evening starting at 7:30 PM, for open-air dinners that continue late into the night.

Music, Ballroom Dancing, and Dance Nights

The Pizza Festival is about more than just food. The heart of the entertainment is the dance nights with ballroom dancing, accompanied by orchestras and live music that get generations dancing under the stars. The program also features DJ sets dedicated to classic hits and themed evenings, capable of attracting a wide and diverse audience, from ballroom enthusiasts to younger crowds.

An Event Designed for Families

The spacious Parco di Villa Franceschini makes the festival particularly suitable for families with children, who can move safely between the tables and the green space. The event calendar is packed with shows and entertainment for families, which complement the food and music offerings, making the event a perfect outing for all ages.

Contigliano and the Sabina Region

Overlooking the Rieti Plain, Contigliano is a picturesque village in the Province of Rieti, known for its historic center and the richness of the Sabina landscape, nestled among olive groves and rolling hills. The Pizza Festival fits into this context as a moment of community gathering and an opportunity for visitors to discover an authentic corner of inland Lazio, far from the beaten path and close to the provincial capital of Rieti.