Settembre d'Altura

Settembre d'Altura, the festival of the Lazio Apennines

Settembre d'Altura is the event that every year, in mid-September, brings life and joy back to the streets of Accumoli, a mountain village in the province of Rieti overlooking the Monti della Laga, on the northern edge of the Lazio region. Promoted by the Municipality of Accumoli with the contribution of the Lazio Region and ARSIAL (the Regional Agency for the Development and Innovation of Agriculture in Lazio), the festival is designed as an immersion into high-altitude traditions: food and wine, folk singing, nature, and pastoral life intertwine over two intense days.

Two days of flavors, music, and traditions

The program spans an entire weekend. From the morning, food and wine stalls from local producers open, offering tastings of typical products from the Rieti mountains that accompany visitors throughout the day. There are also workshops dedicated to environmental protection and traditional cooking, such as the preparation of the famous recchie de prete, as well as folk singing sessions led by voices from the Lazio repertoire.

• Equestrian shows and demonstrations on livestock and fodder;
• Concerts and live music, from the Accumoli Band to folk groups of the Apennines;
• Traditional choirs and costumed parades with the village brass band;
• Guided tastings of cured meats, cheeses, and local specialties.

In the evening, the main square lights up with musical performances, attracting audiences from all over the Tronto Valley and neighboring towns of the High Apennines.

A symbol of rebirth after the earthquake

Settembre d'Altura is not just a food festival: it is a gesture of community and rebirth. Accumoli was one of the towns most affected by the 2016 earthquake, and the event represents an annual opportunity to gather, preserve the town's identity, and look to the future. In this spirit, the 2025 edition saw the return to the population of three historic town bells recovered after the earthquake, including that of the Palazzo del Podestà and two ancient bells from the Chiesa della Misericordia, in a moment of great collective emotion.

Accumoli and the Monti della Laga

Situated at an altitude of over 850 meters, Accumoli is the gateway to the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, a land of pastures, forests, and ancient transhumance routes. The high-altitude landscape, pastoral culture, and the genuineness of the products provide a natural backdrop for a festival that celebrates this deep bond between the community and its mountains.

Food, wine, and local products

The gastronomic heart of the event is managed by local agricultural producers and the Pro Loco of Accumoli, who offer cured meats, cheeses, traditional peasant dishes, and local recipes. A free publication, distributed during the festival, collects the exhibitors, recipes, and stories of the territory every year, allowing visitors to take home a piece of this high-altitude culture.