Sant'Anna Festival

A patronal feast that has become the highlight of the Sabina summer

The Sant'Anna Festival in Casali di Poggio Nativo, a village in the municipality of Poggio Nativo in the province of Rieti (Lazio), is much more than a religious observance. Established in the late 1970s and now in its fortieth year, it has grown into one of the most anticipated summer events in the Sabina region, drawing visitors for days from across the province, the nearby Roman area, and southern Umbria.

The heart of the festival is the liturgical calendar: Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and protector of mothers and families, is celebrated on July 26th. Around this date, the Comitato Casali di Poggio Nativo organizes a program lasting over a week, usually opening in the second half of July and concluding with a procession and fireworks.

The food festivals: Fregnacce and Gnocchi al castrato

The culinary aspect is what has made the festival famous well beyond the municipal borders. Two historic food festivals mark the evenings:

• Fregnacce alla sabinese Festival — Fregnacce are a local, handmade fresh pasta, rolled out roughly and torn into large pieces, traditionally served with a savory 'sventrata' sauce (tomato, garlic, chili, and persichina) or plain. It is the village's signature dish, and its festival has already surpassed twenty editions.
• Gnocchi al castrato Festival — Homemade gnocchi served with mutton ragù, another classic of the 'cucina povera' (peasant cuisine) of the Lazio hinterland, served during the final evenings of the festival.

Food stands generally open around 8:00 PM for open-air dining at long communal tables set up in the village center: it is a perfect opportunity to taste dishes rarely found in restaurants at affordable prices.

Music, sport, and tradition

Alongside the dining, the festival offers nightly concerts and live performances, particularly featuring bands from the Lazio and Sabina music scene rooted in folk and folk-rock traditions. There is no shortage of card tournaments, sporting events, activities for children, and the social moments that have always characterized village festivals in central Italy.

The religious dimension remains the guiding thread: the solemn mass and the procession with the statue of Saint Anne through the streets of Casali draw back those who have emigrated and return to the village specifically for this occasion. The grand finale is entrusted to the fireworks display, which illuminates the hills of Sabina and officially closes the village's festive summer.

Where it takes place

Casali is the most populous village in Poggio Nativo, nestled on the gentle olive-covered hills of the Sabina region, a short distance from the Tiber River and about fifty kilometers from Rome. It is an area known for its Sabina DOP extra virgin olive oil, one of the first Italian oils to receive European recognition, and for the medieval villages scattered along the valley.

Why it is worth the trip

The Sant'Anna Festival is a faithful portrait of an authentic Italian patronal feast: no tourist spectacle, but an entire village that organizes for weeks, cooking, setting up, playing music, and welcoming guests. Visitors will find low prices, generous portions, a family atmosphere, and the chance to discover a cuisine—the Sabina one—much less known than the Roman one but equally interesting.