Sant'Innocenzo Traditional Fair (Sapore di Mare)

An autumn fair in the heart of the Southern Pontine region

The Sant'Innocenzo Traditional Fair is one of the most deeply rooted events in the calendar of Monte San Biagio, a town in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio. Tied to the festivities dedicated to Saint Innocent, it is traditionally held around October 25th and retains the classic character of a village fair: general merchandise stalls set up in the railway station square, street vendors along the town center, and a lively antiques market that attracts collectors and curious visitors from all over lower Lazio.

From the historic fair to "Sapore di Mare"

In 2025, the event took a significant step forward: the fair was joined by "Sapore di Mare — seafood excellence between the coast and the lagoons of the Gulf of Circe," a food and wine festival promoted by the Municipality of Monte San Biagio together with the Lazio Region, GAL Mare Lazio, the FEAMPA program, and the Monti Ausoni and Lake Fondi Regional Natural Park. The result is a hybrid format that combines traditional fair activities with the promotion of local catches, particularly the Cefalo Calamita (mullet) of Lake Fondi, an iconic product of this stretch of the Lazio coast.

The Cefalo Calamita, a star on the table

The Cefalo Calamita is a species linked to the coastal lagoons that separate the Ausoni Mountains from the Tyrrhenian Sea. For generations, it was the "poor man's fish" for the fishing families of Lake Fondi; today, it is at the center of a gastronomic rediscovery project that highlights its preparation, preservation, and traditional recipes. During the event, tasting trails allow visitors to sample it in various preparations, alongside other local dishes such as the famous cotoletta alla monticellana (Monticellana-style cutlet), the star of the cooking shows.

What to find at the fair

• General merchandise fair in the station square area, with dozens of exhibitors
• Antiques and collectibles market in the town center
• Tasting trails dedicated to lagoon seafood and typical products of the Ausoni Mountains
• Cooking shows with local chefs
• Creative workshops for families and children, highly appreciated in the 2025 edition
• Folk music and traveling performances with local folk groups

A village between mountains and lagoons

Monte San Biagio overlooks the Fondi plain from above, in a position that perfectly summarizes the geography of this corner of Lazio: behind it, the limestone ridges of the Ausoni Mountains; in front, the lagoon and the coastline of the Gulf of Circe. It is a territory also known for the Monte San Biagio sausage, a local artisanal pork specialty, and for the hiking trails of the regional park. Visiting the Sant'Innocenzo Fair means arriving in town on one of the days when the community shows its best side, amidst lively alleys, cooking aromas, and encounters with producers and fishermen.

A free event for all ages

Access to the fair, the market, and the public square initiatives is free; only the gastronomic tastings generally require a small contribution. The format is designed for a wide audience: families with children, antiques enthusiasts, hikers taking advantage of the mild autumn of the Southern Pontine region, and curious visitors looking for an authentic day away from the more crowded tourist circuits of the Lazio coast.