Rola Festival - Festival of the Cuckold

A festival that laughs at itself, right at the gates of Rome

The Rola Festival - Festival of the Cuckold is perhaps the most irreverent and authentic autumn festival in the Lazio region. It takes place in Rocca Canterano, a small mountain town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the heart of the Aniene Valley, in Lazio. Established in the mid-eighties, the event has now surpassed forty editions and has become a staple for residents of neighboring villages and Romans looking for a November day trip.

The rola: the roasted chestnut of Saint Martin

The name of the festival comes from the local dialect: the rola is the roasted chestnut, cooked over embers in perforated pans while the air fills with smoke and aroma. The festival falls on the weekend preceding or coinciding with November 11th, Saint Martin's Day, and follows the old farming proverb to the letter: "at Saint Martin, chestnuts and wine". It is the moment when the chestnut harvest is finished and the new wine is ready to be tasted, and the village celebrates by opening its cellars and kitchens.

The burlesque parade and the "Cuckold of the Year"

The spectacular heart of the festival is the burlesque parade, which marches through the narrow streets of the village on both Saturday and Sunday. The procession is led by a float featuring a huge pair of horns; it is followed by the "Cuckold of the Year", elected for the occasion and carried around on a donkey; behind him, a poet sits on a throne reciting satirical verses and folk songs in honor of Saint Martin, to the amusement of the crowd. The parade closes with dozens of participants dressed in red, wearing horned helmets that recall the Lombard warriors who once passed through these valleys.

The tone is never mean-spirited: it is a popular, ironic, and liberating way to exorcise an ancient fear—that of betrayal—by transforming it into a collective celebration. Over the years, the Cuckolds' Tournament has also been added, a playful game that winds through the village streets.

What to eat

The food stalls are managed by Pro Loco volunteers and offer the authentic, humble cuisine of these mountains:

• Role (roasted chestnuts), the undisputed queens of the festival
• Cecamariti, the typical local handmade pasta
• Beans with pork rinds
• Sausage and chicory sandwiches
• Arrosticini (sheep skewers)
• Fried potatoes with cacio e pepe
• Local wine in abundance, served by the carafe

The village

Rocca Canterano is a small settlement perched at over 600 meters above sea level, with narrow alleys, stone arches, and views over the valley. For a few days a year, the village multiplies its population: recent editions have frequently sold out, with queues at the stalls and parking lots full by early afternoon. It is worth arriving early, both to find a spot and to enjoy the village in the daylight before the sun sets and the fires are lit.

Why visit

Those looking for a polished, commercial event won't find it here, and that is exactly the point. The Rola Festival - Festival of the Cuckold is an event made by a village for its own people, open to anyone who wants to laugh, eat well, and drink new wine among the locals. It is also one of the most curious examples of popular folklore in Lazio, so much so that it has been cataloged among the events of Italy's intangible heritage.