Polenta Festival and Olive Oil and Olive Tree Feast

A tradition spanning over forty years in the Aniene Valley

The Polenta Festival in Mandela, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, is one of the longest-running and most anticipated events in the Lazio winter calendar. Reaching its forty-fourth edition in 2025, it is traditionally held on the first Sunday of December, when the small village overlooking the Aniene Valley opens its squares and alleys to thousands of visitors arriving from Rome, Sabina, and neighboring towns.

The festival is more than just a gastronomic event: it is deeply rooted in the patronal feast of Saint Nicholas of Bari, the town's protector, and intertwines with the Olive Oil and Olive Tree Feast, which celebrates the end of the olive harvest and the arrival of fresh oil in local mills. Taste, devotion, and collective identity come together in a single day.

The day: Mass, procession, and cauldrons

The program begins in the morning, around 11:00 AM, with a solemn Mass and a procession through the village streets featuring the statue of the patron saint, accompanied by the community and local confraternities. At the same time, the food stalls open, and the festivities continue non-stop until evening.

Devotion to Saint Nicholas in Mandela has ancient roots: by the end of the sixteenth century, the parish church was already dedicated to him, and the patronal feast was the most important moment of the year for the community, featuring the ritual election of the "Lord of the Feast" and a communal lunch. Today's festival is the popular and convivial heir to that tradition.

What to eat

The menu is simple, hearty, and faithful to the valley's peasant cuisine:

• Bruschetta with new olive oil, the absolute star of the Olive Oil and Olive Tree Feast
• Polenta with pork ribs and sausage, served from large cauldrons
• Polenta rencocciata, the local specialty that defines the festival
• Fried pizzas, prepared fresh on the spot
• Local wine and water

Music, markets, and Christmas atmosphere

In the afternoon, the village comes alive with street performers, wandering musicians, DJ sets, karaoke, and group dancing, with the participation of the local folk group showcasing traditional songs and dances. Christmas and craft markets pop up among the alleys, giving the day a fully wintery atmosphere. The festival concludes with a lottery draw and an evening fireworks display.

The Gardens of Horace and the Castello Del Gallo

One of the reasons this day is unique is the extraordinary opening of the Gardens of Horace, located within the Castello Del Gallo, which are normally closed to the public. It is a once-a-year opportunity to visit one of the most evocative corners of the village and link the festival to the historical heritage of Mandela, a town that owes its literary fame to its proximity to the Horatian sites of the Aniene Valley.

Organizers

The event is organized by the Municipality of Mandela with the support of the Lazio Region, in synergy with the Parish of Saint Nicholas of Bari and numerous local associations that provide volunteers, kitchens, and logistics every year. This volunteer network explains the continuity of an event that has lasted for over forty years.

Why visit

For those coming from Rome, the Mandela Polenta Festival is a perfect day trip: a cozy village, a generous winter dish, freshly pressed oil, and a patronal feast still deeply felt and experienced by the locals. There is nothing staged for tourists: it is an authentic village festival where you sit at the table elbow-to-elbow with the locals.