Sapori d'Autunno

A festival that takes over the whole street

Sapori d'Autunno is the major gastronomic festival of Roccasecca, a town in the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio. The formula is simple and recognisable: Via Piave is closed to traffic and turned into a single, very long 700-metre trail of taste, with over 40 food stalls lined up one after another. There isn't just one signature dish to champion, but a range of about a hundred different offerings: visitors walk, taste, stop, and continue. It is the most direct way to understand what is truly eaten in Ciociaria when autumn arrives.

What to taste

The extensive menu brings together the valley's peasant cuisine and seasonal specialties. In recent editions, stalls have offered bean soups and broths, traditional side dishes, stuffed sandwiches, homemade desserts, and a selection of craft beers, alongside regional specialties and local products. The organisers also cater to those with specific needs: there are stalls with gluten-free options and dishes designed for children, ensuring the gastronomic stroll remains accessible to the whole family.

• Over 40 stalls along a pedestrian route of approximately 700 metres
• Around 100 different gastronomic offerings, both sweet and savoury
• Typical Ciociaria dishes, regional specialties, and seasonal products
• Craft beers and drinks
• Gluten-free options and children's menus

Music, markets, and entertainment

Sapori d'Autunno is not just about food. Along the street and in the small squares, folk music, DJ sets, roaming bands, and live concerts take turns, with entertainment accompanying the public from the opening of the stalls until the evening. Past editions have featured folk and dance acts from Central and Southern Italy, in a programme that prioritises dancing and direct audience engagement. The festival is completed by craft and antique markets, a funfair, and play areas with inflatables for children.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls in October, usually on the second weekend of the month: the fourteenth edition was held on 12 and 13 October 2024, and the fifteenth on 11 and 12 October 2025. On Saturday, the stalls open in the late afternoon, while on Sunday they are open from the morning, with the festival continuing throughout the day. As it is an outdoor event, the organisers usually schedule a backup weekend in case of bad weather.

Roccasecca and the Liri Valley

Roccasecca is located along the Liri Valley, at the foot of the Cairo Mountains, and is best known as the birthplace of Saint Thomas Aquinas: the castle of the Counts of Aquino still dominates the upper town, while the modern village has developed further down in the valley, where the festival takes place. The event, organised by the Associazione Per Roccasecca, has gained the support of the Municipality of Roccasecca, the Valle del Liri Mountain Community, and the Province of Frosinone over the years, becoming one of the most popular occasions to discover this corner of Lazio off the beaten tourist track.

Why it's worth the trip

It is an authentic festival, built by local volunteers rather than a professional organisation, yet it now boasts significant numbers. Those arriving from Rome, Frosinone, or Cassino will find a concentration of popular cuisine, live music, and community atmosphere within a few hours, with the convenience of an entirely pedestrian route and ample parking nearby.