Sagra dei Vertuti Festival

A soup that tells the story of Sabina

The Sagra dei Vertuti is one of the most iconic events in the spring calendar of the Rieti province. It takes place every year on May 1st in Rocca Sinibalda, a village in Lazio perched above the Turano Valley and dominated by the famous 16th-century castle designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi. The event is organized by the local Pro Loco with the support of the Municipality of Rocca Sinibalda.

What are 'vertuti'?

Vertuti is a soup made from legumes and cereals, enriched with fresh fava beans and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and wild mint. It stems from an ancient practice: in spring, housewives would empty their pantries of winter leftovers—chickpeas, beans, lentils, spelt, wheat—and combine them with the first field greens and freshly harvested pods. The result is a unique, one-pot meal that is humble in ingredients but rich in 'virtues'—which is likely where its dialect name comes from. It is a recipe that speaks of sharing and resourcefulness, values that the festival proudly upholds today.

The gastronomic trail

The heart of the day is the gastronomic walk that winds through the alleys and squares of the historic center. The tasting stations are set up in scenic spots and courtyards throughout the village: starting, of course, with the vertuti, and continuing with sausage sandwiches, fava beans with pecorino cheese, and bread with ricotta and honey. Everything is paired with cheeses and cured meats from the Sabina region and wines from the surrounding hills. The pace is slow, designed to let visitors discover both the flavors and the hidden corners of the village.

Markets, crafts, and families

From the morning, the village streets host craft and local product markets, featuring local producers, honey, oil, and cheese stalls. There are also games and workshops for children, making the festival a perfect destination for families on a day trip. Admission to the event is free: you only pay for what you consume at the individual stations.

Rocca Sinibalda and the Turano Valley

The village has just over eight hundred inhabitants and belongs to the Sabina reatina, an area of ancient olive groves and small hamlets. The Castle of Rocca Sinibalda, with its eagle-shaped floor plan, is one of the most photographed buildings in the province and can be seen from every point along the trail. Nearby, you will find Lake Turano, the Monti Cervia and Navegna Nature Reserve, and hiking trails connecting the valley's towns: many visitors combine the festival with a walk or a stop at the lake.

Why visit

• Taste a recipe found almost exclusively here, only one day a year
• Visit a medieval village in Lazio off the beaten track
• Shop directly from Sabina producers
• Take advantage of the May Day long weekend for a trip less than an hour and a half from Rome

The Sagra dei Vertuti remains a village festival in the most authentic sense of the word: organized by volunteers, where you eat standing up in the alleys, maintaining the convivial atmosphere of festivals that have not lost their original charm.