Saint Isidore the Farmer Festival

A rural festival in the heart of Tuscia

In the village of Latera, a small town in the province of Viterbo perched on the volcanic plateau behind Lake Bolsena, in the Lazio region, the Saint Isidore the Farmer Festival is traditionally held around the second Sunday of May. Saint Isidore, a 12th-century farmer from Madrid, is the patron saint of those who work the land. Here, his feast day is more than just a religious observance; it is a way for the entire community to celebrate its identity and agricultural history.

The farm machinery parade and blessing

The most iconic moment of the festival is the parade of agricultural machinery, which travels through the town streets accompanied by the 'Città di Latera' marching band, heading toward the Church of San Sebastiano. Vintage tractors and modern farm equipment parade side-by-side in a procession that bridges generations. Following the mass, the theatrical reenactment of the conflict between the landowner and the laborer takes place—a form of popular folk theater that portrays the labor relations of the past with a mix of irony and bitterness.

Improvised poetry in ottava rima

The cultural highlight of the event is the interregional meeting of improvised 'ottava rima' poetry, held on Sunday afternoon. 'Poeti a braccio' (improvised poets)—hailing primarily from northern Lazio, Tuscany, and Umbria—compete by improvising sung octaves on themes proposed on the spot. This is one of the most fragile and precious expressions of Italy's intangible heritage, and Latera provides one of its most loyal stages, supported by the Lazio Region and under the patronage of the Central Institute for Intangible Heritage.

The Museum of the Earth and seasonal reopening

The festival coincides with the seasonal reopening of the Museum of the Earth, which grew from a collection started in the 1970s by farmer Luigi Poscia to preserve objects from a world he felt was destined to vanish. Tools, baskets, work implements, and oral testimonies now form an ethnographic museum that serves as a reference point for the entire Tuscia area. A community lunch is held in the museum gardens, followed by a demonstration of the 'morra' game, an ancient hand game that has accompanied rural festivals in central Italy for centuries.

Trekking, dinner, and village life

The program usually begins on Saturday with a guided trek to discover the Latera landscape, wandering through cultivated fields, volcanic paths, and viewpoints overlooking the lake. The evening continues with a dinner organized by the Saint Isidore Festival Committee at the Multi-purpose Center in Piazza IV Novembre—a convivial moment where the village gathers before the main events on Sunday.

Why it's worth the trip

• An authentic and grassroots festival, free from commercial tourist trappings
• Living intangible heritage: 'ottava rima' poetry, 'morra', and folk theater
• Free access to the Museum of the Earth
• A hidden gem just a few kilometers from Lake Bolsena

Latera is easily reached from Viterbo, Orvieto, and the western shore of the lake: an ideal stop for those wanting to experience the most genuine side of Tuscia, defined by its fields and voices.