Saint Anthony Abbot Feast and Snail Festival (Tre Cancelli)

A rural tradition spanning eighty years

Just a few kilometres from the sea, where the urban landscape of Nettuno fades into the countryside of the Metropolitan City of Rome, the Tre Cancelli district preserves one of the longest-running popular festivals in southern Lazio. The Saint Anthony Abbot Feast originated from the devotion of local farmers and breeders to the patron saint of domestic animals, and for decades, it has been celebrated here in the heart of summer, when the community gathers after the harvest. In 2026, the festival marks its 80th edition, accompanied by the 19th Snail Festival.

The snail, the star of the table

The signature dish of the festival is stewed snails, prepared according to the local rural recipe with tomato, garlic, wild mint, and chilli, served at the large food stalls set up along Via Rovito. Alongside the snails, the festival tables offer classics of Lazio's popular cuisine: homemade fettuccine, grilled meats, porchetta, homemade desserts, and wines from the Castelli Romani. The kitchens operate every evening and serve as the true meeting point of the district, with hundreds of meals served by the committee's volunteers.

Eleven nights of music and entertainment

The programme spans eleven consecutive nights with free admission, featuring a stage hosting ballroom orchestras, cover bands, tribute acts, and roving performances. Traditional favourites remain: the briscola card tournament, popular games for families and children, cycling races, and daytime sports tournaments, all culminating in a fireworks display that closes the busiest moments. The simple, proven formula attracts thousands of people every year from Nettuno, Anzio, Aprilia, and the entire coastline.

Faith and tradition

Beyond the gastronomy and music, the religious dimension remains vibrant: the procession featuring the statue and banner of the saint winds through the district's streets and is one of the most attended moments of the entire event. In Nettuno, devotion to Saint Anthony Abbot has a dual focus: the blessing of the animals in the town centre around 17 January, the saint's liturgical day, and this grand summer festival in Tre Cancelli, which serves as its popular, expanded version. It is a unique local trait worth discovering: in the Lazio tradition, the hermit saint is the protector of livestock, and the festival was born as an act of thanksgiving from the agricultural world.

Why it's worth the trip

• Completely free admission to all evenings and shows.
• An authentic festival, organised by neighbourhood volunteers rather than commercial operators.
• Popular prices at the food stalls, with generous portions.
• The opportunity to combine the evening with a day at the beach on the Nettuno and Anzio riviera.
• A rare dish like stewed snails, increasingly hard to find in restaurants across the Lazio region.

The setting: Nettuno and the Roman coast

Nettuno is a coastal town in the Metropolitan City of Rome, known for its medieval old town, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Goretti, the Sangallo Fortress, and the American Military Cemetery. Tre Cancelli is located inland, towards the countryside of Campo di Carne and the reclaimed areas of the Agro Pontino: an agricultural landscape that clearly explains the rural roots of the festival. Those arriving from Rome can easily combine a visit to the festival with a stroll through the historic centre of Nettuno or a stop at the nearby beaches of the Lazio coast.