Sagra dullo Callarosto i dull'Acquata Festival

A festival that speaks the Giulianese dialect

The name of the festival itself is a piece of heritage: Sagra dullo Callarosto i dull'Acquata, meaning "Roasted Chestnut and Acquata Festival," written in the local dialect of Giuliano di Roma, a municipality in the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio. This is no mere folkloric detail: in this part of the Ciociaria region, the dialect remains the language of celebrations, recipes, and nicknames, and the Pro Loco has chosen to preserve it even on event posters.

The two stars: chestnuts and acquata

The callarosto is a chestnut roasted in a perforated pan, turned repeatedly over the embers until it blackens and splits. Acquata, on the other hand, is an ancient peasant drink made by adding water to already-pressed grape pomace: a light, slightly vinous beverage that once accompanied autumn farm work in the Frosinone countryside and today survives almost exclusively thanks to festivals like this one. Pairing the two is the perfect synthesis of a 'cucina povera' tradition that wasted nothing.

The role of the Pro Loco

The Pro Loco of Giuliano di Roma, established on July 16, 1975, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2025. Over half a century, the association has built a calendar that marks the rhythm of the village: alongside the better-known Sagra dugli Maccaruni cugli Feri, dedicated to handmade pasta shaped on knitting needles, and the re-enactment of Pope Innocent III's passage, the Sagra dullo Callarosto i dull'Acquata is cited as one of the organization's historic events. These are complemented by dialect poetry competitions, exhibitions, and theatrical evenings that round out the Pro Loco's cultural activities.

What to expect

This is a small-scale festival, very different from the large food and wine events in Lazio: no massive stages, just the squares and alleys of the historic center filled with stalls, braziers, and long communal tables. It is the kind of event where the association's volunteers do the actual cooking, where the village elders recount how 'acquata' was prepared at home, and where children run between the stalls. Visitors from outside will find a genuine atmosphere and affordable prices.

• Roasted chestnuts cooked on the spot and served hot in paper cones
• Acquata and local wines from the Amaseno Valley
• Traditional Ciociaria dishes prepared by volunteers
• Folk music, accordion players, and square dancing
• Stalls featuring local products and crafts

Giuliano di Roma and the Amaseno Valley

Giuliano di Roma is a village perched on the slopes of the Lepini Mountains, overlooking the Amaseno River valley. The historic center retains its medieval layout, with narrow alleys, arches, and stairways that open up to views of the plains. The area is known for its extra virgin olive oil production, the chestnut groves on the mountain slopes, and a dense network of village festivals that animate towns like Patrica, Villa Santo Stefano, and Amaseno between late summer and autumn. It should be noted that nearby Patrica organizes a better-known festival with a similar name, now in its fiftieth year: the two events are distinct and testify to how deeply rooted the chestnut-and-acquata pairing is throughout the area.

Why it's worth the trip

Those looking for the Italy of village festivals—the kind not yet shaped by mass tourism—will find exactly what they are looking for here. It is also a unique opportunity to taste 'acquata', a product not found commercially and which survives only in the memory and hands of those who still prepare it. An afternoon in Giuliano di Roma can easily be combined with a visit to the village and a walk along the trails of the Lepini Mountains.