Tolfa Jazz Musical Picnics
Live concerts, hiking, and local flavors in the Tolfa Mountains
About Musical Picnics
Music and nature in the heart of the Tolfa Mountains
The Musical Picnics are an event series that the Tolfa Jazz APS association dedicates to the harmony between live music and the landscape during spring and autumn. The setting is the meadows of Comunale Macchiosi, a recreational area nestled in the woods of the Tolfa Mountains, within the Municipality of Tolfa, a hilltop village in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in northern Lazio. Here, among ancient oaks and clearings, concerts are enjoyed while sitting on the grass, following a morning hike and preceding a lunch featuring local specialties.
A format born in 2014
Originating in 2014 as the "green" branch of the Tolfa Jazz Festival, the Musical Picnics have established a recognizable formula over the years: guided morning excursions, a late-morning concert, a convivial lunch under the trees, and a second concert in the afternoon, often concluding with a sunset jam session. The format has been highlighted as a best practice by Cittaslow International and is part of the Italian sustainable jazz circuit, Jazz Takes The Green. Since 2023, the agro-silvo-pastoral landscape of Tolfa has also been recognized as one of Italy's Historical Rural Landscapes, providing even more reason to explore it at a slow pace.
Excursions: on foot or by mountain bike
The day starts early: the meeting point is Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Tolfa, from where participants reach the starting points of the various itineraries. The excursions, led by AIGAE guides, visit places of great historical and natural charm:
- the Sasso della Strega and the medieval abbey of Piantangeli, with trails suitable for children;
- paths through the woods, clearings, and Etruscan remains of the Tolfa Mountains;
- a mountain bike route for those who prefer pedals to hiking boots.
For the little ones, there are nature-themed workshops, such as "Forest Superheroes," designed for children aged 4-12.
Concerts and traditional lunch
The musical program ranges from manouche jazz to blues, swing, and world music, with two main sets: one in the late morning and one in the afternoon. Between concerts, starting at 12:30 PM, the Comunale Macchiosi lodge serves a lunch of traditional Tolfa products: acquacotta, the iconic dish of the Lazio Maremma tradition, amatriciana pasta, grilled meats, desserts, and local wine, with vegetarian and children's menus available. Over 700 attendees at the May 2026 edition confirm the success of this proposal, which unites community, slow tourism, and culture.
A community project
The Musical Picnics are held under the patronage of the Municipality of Tolfa and supported by the Lazio Region, in collaboration with environmental guides, local producers, schools, and volunteers. The event is also an opportunity to promote the territory: participants discover an authentic corner of Lazio, an hour from Rome and just a few kilometers from the sea of Civitavecchia, where music becomes the thread connecting nature, history, and flavors.
Musical Picnics — edition 2026
On Sunday, May 24, 2026, the meadows of Comunale Macchiosi transformed into a grand stage immersed in nature for the spring edition of the Tolfa Jazz Musical Picnics. The day began at 8:30 AM with a meeting at Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Tolfa, from where participants reached the starting points of the excursions: four nature trails guided by AIGAE experts — including the Sasso della Strega-Piantangeli Abbey route, a 7 km path also suitable for children — and a mountain bike itinerary.
At 11:00 AM, the Traindeville trio offered an ethnic musical journey from Rome to Latin America, featuring Ludovica Valori (vocals, accordion, trombone), Fabio Gammone (guitar, clarinet), and Simone Pulvano (percussion). From 12:30 PM, lunch featured local products: acquacotta or amatriciana pasta, grilled meat, desserts, and wine, with vegetarian and children's menus available. At 4:00 PM, Francesca De Fazi & Gypsy Blues Band, a Civitavecchia-born artist acclaimed at The Voice Senior, paid tribute to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin with a mix of blues and soul, followed by a sunset jam session. Organizers estimated over 700 attendees.
Programme Musical Picnics 2026
Program for Sunday, May 24, 2026
- 8:30 AM — Meeting at Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Tolfa
- 9:00 AM — Start of guided excursions (AIGAE guides): four trails to choose from, including Sasso della Strega-Piantangeli Abbey (7 km, 200 m elevation gain, suitable for children), or a mountain bike itinerary
- 9:00 AM — "Forest Superheroes" children's workshop (ages 4-12)
- 11:00 AM — Concert by Traindeville (trio): ethnic musical journey from Rome to Latin America with Ludovica Valori (vocals, accordion, trombone), Fabio Gammone (guitar, clarinet), and Simone Pulvano (percussion)
- From 12:30 PM — Traditional lunch at the Comunale Macchiosi lodge: acquacotta or amatriciana pasta, grilled meat, salad, desserts, water, and wine (vegetarian and children's menus available)
- 4:00 PM — Concert by Francesca De Fazi & Gypsy Blues Band: blues and soul with tributes to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin
- At sunset — Open jam session
Highlights Musical Picnics 2026
- Over 700 attendees in the meadows of Comunale Macchiosi
- Four guided AIGAE excursions and a mountain bike route through medieval abbeys and Etruscan sites
- Traindeville in concert at 11 AM and Francesca De Fazi & Gypsy Blues Band at 4 PM
- Traditional lunch with acquacotta, amatriciana, and local wine
- "Forest Superheroes" workshop for children aged 4 to 12
Prices Musical Picnics 2026
Practical information — Musical Picnics
How to get there
Tolfa can be reached by car from the A12 motorway (Civitavecchia Sud exit), continuing on the SP3B, or from Rome via Bracciano-Manziana. The meeting point is Piazza Vittorio Veneto, from where you proceed towards Comunale Macchiosi following the organizers' signs.
Fees and bookings
Adult package: €20 (concerts + lunch), €25 (hike + concerts + lunch), €30 (MTB + concerts + lunch). Children up to 12 years: €10-€15. Booking is mandatory by the preceding Friday via email ([email protected]), WhatsApp, or phone (+39 389 8384355).
Tips
Wear trekking shoes, bring a water bottle, and a blanket to sit on the grass. In case of bad weather, check for updates on the Tolfa Jazz social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Musical Picnics
Comunale Macchiosi, Monti della Tolfa
Località Comunale Macchiosi, 00059 Tolfa