Tordo Matto Festival

A festival dedicated to a unique dish

The Tordo Matto Festival is the most iconic food and wine event in Zagarolo, a village in the Colli Prenestini area within the Metropolitan City of Rome. Every year in June, the town's historic center comes alive for three days of tastings, cooking shows, cultural meetings, and concerts, all dedicated to the dish that has defined the city's culinary soul for centuries: the tordo matto.

The tordo matto: a 16th-century recipe

Despite the name, the tordo matto (literally 'crazy thrush') is not a game bird dish: it is a horse meat roll stuffed with a mixture of prosciutto fat, garlic, parsley, coriander (known as pitartima in the local dialect), salt, and local spices. The recipe dates back to the 16th century, born from the ingenuity of farming families and shepherds who used aromatic herbs and spices to preserve and flavor the meat. In 2023, the Municipality of Zagarolo granted it the De.Co. (Municipal Denomination of Origin) label, which certifies its traditional nature and guarantees the authenticity of its ingredients. It is enjoyed grilled, which gives it a smoky aroma, or pan-seared to enhance its tenderness; creative variations such as stuffed ravioli and casarecce pasta with white tordo matto ragù are also popular.

A gourmet trail in the historic center

During the festival, the ancient heart of Zagarolo—from Piazza Guglielmo Marconi along Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi—turns into a true gourmet trail: about a dozen food stalls run by local restaurateurs and associations offer the tordo matto in its various preparations, alongside other traditional flavors. Local chefs and sommeliers share the history of the dish and its pairings through live demonstrations and guided tastings.

Music and entertainment in the squares

The festival is not just about food: the village squares host concerts and live performances every evening, ranging from the folk sounds of traditional Central-Southern Italian pizzica and saltarello to soul, funk, and DJ sets. The event concludes with the Music Festival, which fills Piazza Indipendenza with performances and crowds.

Culture at Palazzo Rospigliosi

Alongside the stalls, the program features literary meetings, presentations, and educational workshops at Palazzo Rospigliosi, home to the Toy Museum, with guests from the worlds of cuisine and culture. The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Zagarolo in collaboration with the Pro Loco and the Palazzo Rospigliosi Institution, involving local associations, volunteers, and merchants.

Zagarolo and the Colli Prenestini

Zagarolo is one of the most charming villages in the Colli Prenestini area, nestled between the Castelli Romani and Palestrina in the Lazio Region. The festival is also an opportunity to discover the Baroque historic center, its churches, and its noble palaces, located less than forty kilometers from Rome and easily accessible by train.