The Roads of Taste and Inclusion

A new format born in Gaeta

The Roads of Taste and Inclusion is a travelling event that debuted in 2026 in the town of Gaeta, in the province of Latina, southern Lazio. It is promoted by the Lazio Region in partnership with ARSIAL (the Regional Agency for the Development and Innovation of Agriculture in Lazio) and ASP - Istituti Riuniti del Lazio, with the collaboration of the Municipality of Gaeta. The underlying idea is both simple and ambitious: to use the table as a meeting place, where the promotion of regional agri-food excellence goes hand-in-hand with a genuine, non-symbolic social inclusion project.

The village of taste

The heart of the event is a village of about twenty stalls set up along the streets of the historic centre. Local farmers, restaurateurs, and non-profit organisations work side-by-side to showcase the supply chains of southern Lazio. Key highlights include:

• the Oliva di Gaeta, a signature product of the city recognised far beyond regional borders;
• the Tiella di Gaeta, the stuffed savoury pie that is the symbol of the Gulf, served in its traditional variations;
• oily fish prepared according to local maritime recipes;
• extra virgin olive oil, wine, and grain, the three pillars around which ARSIAL builds the narrative of the territory.

It is not just about tasting: every stall is designed as a story of the supply chain, agricultural identity, and the people behind the products.

Inclusion at the centre

The social component is what truly distinguishes this event. Forty young people with disabilities, supported by professional tutors, are directly involved in welcoming guests, serving, and explaining the characteristics of the local products. The programme stems from the conviction that the food, wine, and tourism sectors are ideal environments for building autonomy and professional inclusion. The project is coordinated with four local entities: AIPD Sud Pontino, Liberautismo APS, the Fondazione Don Cosimino Fronzuto, and the Cooperativa Sociale Down at Work.

Three stages, three faces of the city

The format is designed as a cycle of three events spread throughout the season, each in a different area of Gaeta. The first stage took place along via Annunziata, in the heart of the historic centre, coinciding with the celebrations in honour of the patron saints Erasmus and Marcian: a deliberate choice that integrated the event into the city's most cherished devotional calendar. Subsequent stages are announced at Villa delle Sirene, in the Porto Salvo district, and along via Buonomo.

Long evenings and open monuments

During the first stage, the village animated the evenings from 6:00 PM to midnight, with local artisans and artists along the route. During these same hours, some of the historic centre's iconic landmarks remained exceptionally accessible, including the Sanctuary of the SS. Annunziata and the famous Golden Chapel: a rare opportunity to visit them at night, with the city illuminated and the sea just a few steps away.

Why it is worth visiting

Gaeta is already one of the most beloved destinations on the Lazio coast, with its beaches, the Montagna Spaccata, and a layered medieval historic centre. The Roads of Taste and Inclusion adds another reason to visit: a free-admission event where you can eat well, walk through beautiful places, and meet a piece of the community at work. The outcome of the first stage was positive, with significant public participation over the four evenings, and the promoting bodies have indicated this model as replicable in other locations across Lazio.