Spigno Saturnia International Folklore Festival

A bridge between peoples in the heart of the Aurunci

The Spigno Saturnia International Folklore Festival is one of the longest-running and most beloved events in the Gulf of Gaeta and the entire province of Latina. Reaching its 29th edition in 2026, the festival enlivens Piazza Mercato in Spigno Saturnia Inferiore—a village nestled at the foot of the Aurunci Mountains in southern Lazio—every year on the second weekend of July. For two evenings, the town becomes a meeting place for peoples and cultures: folk groups from various countries perform traditional dances, songs, and wear authentic costumes, offering a show rich in color, emotion, and authenticity.

The Gruppo Folklorico Le Contrade

The heart of the event is the Gruppo Folklorico Le Contrade of Spigno Saturnia, a historic group that has been preserving and promoting the local cultural heritage for decades: traditional dances, folk music, and period costumes of the Aurunci territory. Now established as the Associazione Le Contrade APS, the group organizes the festival under the patronage of the Lazio Region and the Municipality of Spigno Saturnia, bringing folk ensembles from Italy, Europe, and other continents to this small town in Lazio.

How the festival works

The format, consolidated over the years, features two evenings of performances with free admission. The first evening is traditionally dedicated to Italian folk music and dance, while the second hosts performances by international groups, preceded by a picturesque parade of the costumed ensembles through the streets of the historic center. There is no shortage of collective celebrations, including a raffle and, at the close of the event, a fireworks display that illuminates the Aurunci valley.

Flavors from the world and the local territory

Alongside music and dance, the festival is enriched by food stalls offering typical local and international dishes: a journey through flavors that complements the journey through cultures. The Aurunci cuisine—simple, rustic, and tied to the products of the land—engages with the specialties brought by the guest groups, creating a complete experience of tastes, sounds, and traditions.

Spigno Saturnia, between sea and mountains

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Spigno Saturnia, a municipality in the province of Latina divided between the ancient hilltop village (Spigno Superiore) and the more modern center in the valley (Spigno Inferiore). The town is located in the heart of the Monti Aurunci Natural Park, just a few kilometers from the Gulf of Gaeta and the beaches of Formia and Minturno: a location that allows you to combine the festival evenings with mountain hikes or days at the beach. In the height of summer, the local events calendar is particularly rich, and the International Folklore Festival represents its most defining moment.

Why attend

• One of the longest-running folk festivals in southern Lazio, with nearly thirty years of history
• International groups in traditional costumes, a parade in the historic center, and a final fireworks display
• Free admission and an authentic village-festival atmosphere
• Food stalls with typical local and international dishes
• A stone's throw from the Gulf of Gaeta and the Monti Aurunci Park