SS. Filippo e Giacomo Festival

A rural festival in the heart of the Treja Valley

In Mazzano Romano, a village in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital overlooking the scenic Treja Valley, May 1st is more than just a day off: it is the SS. Filippo e Giacomo Festival, an event the community dedicates to the two Apostles venerated here as protectors of the countryside. This tradition is rooted in the agricultural history of northern Lazio, dating back to when the beginning of May signaled the time when fields promised a harvest and the community entrusted its protection to its saints.

Fava beans and pecorino, the May 1st gastronomic ritual

The combination of fresh fava beans and pecorino is the ultimate symbol of May 1st in Lazio, and in Mazzano Romano, it becomes the heart of the festival. In the afternoon, following religious celebrations, the village fills with tasting stalls dedicated to typical products of the Roman countryside: freshly shelled fava beans, pecorino shavings, homemade bread, and the wines of the Castelli and Tuscia regions that traditionally accompany this pairing.

• Fresh seasonal fava beans, served raw as tradition dictates
• Roman pecorino and local cheeses
• Typical products from the Roman countryside and the Treja Valley
• Stalls set up in the town's public squares

The religious aspect: Holy Mass for the two Apostles

The day begins with Holy Mass in honor of Saints Philip and James. The May 1st tradition is ancient: it does not commemorate the date of the Apostles' deaths, but rather the dedication of the basilica erected in Rome in their honor during the 4th century. In the rural culture of Lazio, these two saints were gradually associated with the protection of fields and livestock, and it is this bond that the Mazzano Romano festival continues to celebrate every year.

Evening music

As the sun sets, the festival shifts gears: the evening is enlivened by musical performances that turn the main square into a gathering point for families, young people, and visitors from neighboring towns. It is the most convivial moment of the day, when the festival stops being just about food and becomes a true village celebration.

Why it is worth the trip

Mazzano Romano is one of the most characteristic villages north of Rome: its medieval historic center, perched on tuff rock, overlooks the Treja Valley Regional Park, a protected area established in 1982 and shared with the municipality of Calcata. Those arriving for the festival can easily combine the event with a walk through the Treja gorge or a visit to the nearby Monte Gelato Waterfalls, among the most beloved natural landmarks in the Roman province. It is a hard-to-beat combination: popular tradition, rural cuisine, and nature, all within a few kilometers.

A community-focused event

Do not expect massive crowds or imposing stages: the SS. Filippo e Giacomo Festival is an authentically local event, organized by the community for the community, and that is precisely where its value lies. Those looking for the "real" Italy of festivals—where producers are your neighbors and the program is built on word-of-mouth—will find exactly what they are looking for here.