Strengozze Festival

The Strengozze Festival in Cantalice

In the heart of the Reatine Sabina, the small village of Cantalice (Rieti province, Lazio) dedicates one of the region's most beloved festivals to a simple yet deeply symbolic dish: strengozze. Every year in late August, the Pro Loco Cantalice transforms the town into a vibrant popular celebration that weaves together gastronomy, live music, and rural traditions, attracting tens of thousands of people from across the province and beyond. The 2025 edition, the nineteenth, welcomed over 20,000 visitors, cementing the festival as a key summer event in the Rieti area.

Strengozze: a dish that tells the story of the village

Strengozze is a handmade pasta made using only water and flour, rolled and cut according to the traditional Cantalice shape. The seasoning is equally essential: a sauté of oil, garlic, and chili pepper, tomato, and above all 'persa', an aromatic herb similar to marjoram that grows wild in the local fields, giving the dish its unmistakable fragrance. The recipe, passed down through generations by local housewives, was officially recognized in 2006 by the Lazio Region as a traditional product. During the festival, the strengozze are prepared and served at the stalls, often accompanied by workshops and demonstrations that showcase the ancient techniques of pasta making to visitors.

Four days of celebration

The event spans several evenings, with food stalls open for dinner and, on the final day, for lunch as well. Surrounding the tastings is a rich program of live concerts and performances, a fair featuring local products and crafts, activities for children, and guided tours of the historic center. Over the years, the festival has hosted famous names in Italian folk music, dance orchestras, and cover bands, alternating between ballroom dancing, pop music, and major concerts that bring the Piazza della Madonna della Pace and the village streets to life.

Cantalice and the Holy Valley

The charm of the festival is inseparable from its territory. Cantalice stands on a rocky ridge overlooking Lungo and Ripasottile lakes, within the Lungo and Ripasottile Lakes Nature Reserve, and preserves a medieval historic center filled with stairways, arches, and panoramic views. The town is linked to the figure of Saint Felix of Cantalice, the first saint of the Capuchin order, and lies along the Way of St. Francis, which connects the Franciscan sanctuaries of the Reatine Holy Valley. Attending the Strengozze Festival means combining culinary pleasure with an authentic discovery of the Sabina region, amidst spirituality, nature, and tradition.

A late-summer appointment

Traditionally held in late August, the festival marks the ideal conclusion to the village's summer season. Admission is free, and you only pay for what you choose to eat, with affordable prices designed for families and groups of friends. It is the perfect opportunity to savor a humble and generous dish of Reatine cuisine, immersed in the warm atmosphere of a community that has proudly celebrated its roots for years.