Sagne "co j'aju pistatu" Festival

The festival of San Gregorio da Sassola's signature dish

In the heart of the Monti Prenestini, about forty kilometers from Rome, the village of San Gregorio da Sassola dedicates a Sunday in November to its most iconic dish: sagne "co j'aju pistatu". The Sagne Festival turns Piazza Candida Brancaccio, in the historic center, into a large open-air dining room, where the aroma of garlic crushed in extra virgin olive oil blends with folk music and the convivial atmosphere typical of Lazio's food festivals.

What are sagne "co j'aju pistatu"?

Sagne are a type of homemade pasta, similar to irregular fettuccine, prepared with flour and water according to peasant tradition. The condiment that gives the festival its name is "aju pistatu", or crushed garlic: garlic worked in a mortar with local extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of pepper. These humble ingredients tell the story of the subsistence cuisine of the Prenestini towns, when the pantry offered little and imagination had to do the rest. It is a dish that, as local chronicles recount, speaks of simplicity and authenticity, and is today the gastronomic banner of the village.

The festival menu

During the event, the food stands offer a complete traditional menu:

• Sagne co j'aju pistatu, the star dish, prepared fresh on the spot;
• Veal stew, a hearty main course of peasant cuisine;
• Bread with new oil, to taste the freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil — the festival takes place right in the middle of the pressing season;
• Water and local wine included in the menu;
• A gluten-free option is also available.

In the 2025 edition, the full menu was offered for 15 euros, an affordable price in line with the popular spirit of the event.

Music, conviviality, and village life

As per tradition, lunch in the square is accompanied by folk music and entertainment. The festival is a great opportunity to visit San Gregorio da Sassola, listed among the most charming villages in Lazio: the town preserves a medieval layout with concentric alleys dominated by the Castello Brancaccio, and from the viewpoint, the gaze sweeps over the Roman countryside. A few steps from the square, you can find the old village and the trails of the Monti Prenestini, ideal for a walk before or after lunch.

Organizers

The event is organized by the ASD Gregoriana, a sports and local promotion association very active in the town, with the patronage of the Municipality of San Gregorio da Sassola and the collaboration of the Pro Loco. The same group organizes other festivals in the Gregorian calendar, such as the new oil festival and the "aju cutturu" sheep festival: an associative fabric that keeps the village's gastronomic traditions alive throughout the year.

A festival in the Prenestini calendar

In the province of Rome and throughout Lazio, autumn is the season of festivals dedicated to the fruits of the earth: new oil, chestnuts, mushrooms, and wine. The Sagne Festival of San Gregorio da Sassola fits into this circuit with a unique proposal, linked to a condiment — crushed garlic — that almost no other town claims as its own. For those who love local food and wine tourism, it is an authentic stop, far from the most beaten paths.