Supplì Festival

A village festival in the heart of Tuscia

The Supplì Festival has become one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of the summer in the municipality of Graffignano, in the province of Viterbo, Lazio. It takes place at Poggio del Castagno, a well-equipped green area in the hamlet of Sipicciano, where families, groups of friends, and visitors from across the Tuscia region gather for three consecutive evenings in early July. The event is organised by A.S.D. Robur Tevere, the local sports association that has kept the tradition alive for years with the help of local volunteers.

The supplì, king of fried food

The supplì is an icon of Roman street food: a breaded and fried rice croquette with a molten mozzarella heart that stretches when you take the first bite—hence the name 'supplì al telefono' (on the phone). In Sipicciano, they are prepared strictly by hand by volunteers, and the festival menu offers five varieties:

• Classic Supplì, with meat sauce and gooey mozzarella
• Carbonara Supplì, creamy and savoury
• Wild Boar Supplì, a tribute to the hunting traditions of Tuscia
• Radicchio and Speck Supplì, a more delicate version
• Finto Arancino, the new addition created for the tenth anniversary

Alongside the supplì, the stalls offer other local specialities, fried dishes, desserts, and wines from the Viterbo area, creating a complete outdoor dining experience.

Music, dancing, and outdoor evenings

The formula is that of a classic Italian village fair: the food stalls open every evening at 8:00 PM, and the square turns into a dance floor with live music and dancing under the stars. Friday is dedicated to the opening, Saturday is the main event with the kitchen in full swing, and Sunday concludes with the final dinner and a farewell musical performance. There is no entrance fee: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls, making the festival particularly suitable for families and large groups.

Sipicciano and the surrounding area

Sipicciano is a small hamlet of Graffignano overlooking the Tiber valley, just a few kilometres from the border with Umbria and dominated by its castle. The Poggio del Castagno park, nestled in greenery, offers shaded areas and ample parking, making it the traditional meeting place for the community in summer. Visitors can combine the evening with a trip to the village, the nearby Baglioni Castle of Graffignano, and the countryside of lower Tuscia, a land of wine, olive oil, and local products.

Why visit

The Supplì Festival is not a massive commercial event: it is exactly what it promises to be—a community celebration where you eat well, spend little, and dance until late. For those who want to experience summer in the villages of Lazio, far from the crowded tourist circuits, it is an authentic and welcoming occasion.