Saint Anne's Feast and Crespelle Festival (Cisterna District)

A local festival in the heart of the Comino Valley

The Saint Anne's Feast and Crespelle Festival is the summer highlight of the Cisterna district, one of the hamlets of the municipality of Fontechiari, in the province of Frosinone, Southern Lazio. It is celebrated on July 26th, the day the Church commemorates Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and patron saint of mothers and families. This is not a tourist-driven event; it is a festival organized by the community for the community, which is precisely why it retains an authenticity that many visitors find rare and precious.

Popular devotion and rural memory

The cult of Saint Anne is deeply rooted throughout the Ciociaria region and the Comino Valley, where the saint is traditionally invoked by local women and linked to the agricultural cycle: her feast day falls in the height of summer, when the harvest is finished and the community can finally take a break. In Cisterna, the day follows the classic pattern of Lazio's patronal feasts: the liturgical celebration, the procession with the saint's statue through the district's streets, and then the social gathering, which continues into the evening with music and outdoor food stalls.

Crespelle: the stars of the table

The dish that gives the festival its name is the crespella, a traditional Ciociarian specialty that has nothing to do with the French crêpe. It is a leavened dough fritter made with flour, water, natural yeast, and salt, kneaded by hand for a long time and then fried in boiling oil. The result is golden and puffy, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is served hot, straight from the pan, either in a savory version—often accompanied by local cured meats or simply a pinch of salt—or sugared as a dessert. The preparation is entrusted to the women of the committee and the district's families, who work for hours at the large pots: watching them in action is an essential part of the festival experience.

What to expect

• Religious moment: Holy Mass and procession in honor of Saint Anne in the Cisterna district.
• Outdoor food stalls serving crespelle and other traditional Ciociarian dishes.
• Evening music and entertainment, following the traditional format of local village festivals.
• Family atmosphere: the festival is designed for all ages, with an audience consisting largely of residents and families returning for the summer.

Fontechiari and the Fontechiari Summer

The Cisterna festival is part of the Fontechiari Summer calendar, a program promoted by the Fontechiari municipal administration together with the Pro Loco Fontechiari APS, the district festival committees, and local businesses. From late July to August, the village hosts numerous events—from the Fontechiari Fun Festival to musical evenings and the Night of Ancient Flavors—that bring life to the squares, neighborhoods, and the historic center.

Fontechiari is a medieval village overlooking the Comino Valley, at the gates of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. The town, which preserves its hilltop layout and the fountains that inspired its name, is also known for the feast of its patron saint, Saint Bartholomew (August 24th), and the Autumn Festival with its famous giant cake. Those visiting the area during this period can combine the festival with an itinerary through the valley's villages, the Melfa and Liri rivers, and the trattorias offering typical Ciociarian cuisine.

A tip

As with many district festivals in the Lazio region, the detailed program is released close to the date via posters displayed in the village and the social media channels of the festival committee and the Pro Loco. It is advisable to check the times in the days immediately preceding the event and arrive early: crespelle, as we know, disappear quickly.