Vallerano Fried Food Festival

The festival celebrating the art of frying in Tuscia

The Vallerano Fried Food Festival is one of the most anticipated food and wine events of early summer in the Tuscia area of Viterbo. Every year in June, the Municipal Garden on Via Antonio Gramsci fills with long tables, the scent of high-quality oil, and music. For three days, the small town of Vallerano in the Lazio region celebrates one of its most beloved specialties: fried food, which, alongside porchetta, has made the village famous throughout the region.

What to eat

The heart of the festival is the food stand, where local cooks prepare fried dishes on the spot using recipes passed down through generations. The plates are filled with golden, perfectly battered vegetables:

• Fried zucchini flowers, the festival's signature dish
• Fried pizza, simple and fragrant
• Battered potatoes, zucchini, and eggplant
• Salt cod fried according to traditional Tuscia recipes
• Vallerano porchetta and grilled sausages
• Fricciolose, a local specialty, with donuts and dry pastries to finish the meal

Everything is accompanied by draft beer and wines from local producers. Admission is free: you only pay for what you eat, following the classic tradition of local village festivals.

More than just food: music, games, and guided tours

The Fried Food Festival is a true village celebration. Friday and Saturday evenings are enlivened by live music and dance parties, while children have a dedicated area with games and inflatables. The stands also host markets featuring handicrafts and local products. On Sunday, the program expands with nature walks in the surroundings and guided tours of the caves of Piazza dell'Oratorio and SS. Salvatore—cavities carved into the tuff that reveal the village's underground history, managed by the Kalipè association.

A festival born around San Vittore

The festival is organized by the San Vittore Martyr Religious Association Celebration Committee, the same group that hosts the grand Feast of San Vittore, the patron saint of Vallerano, in late August. The committee, composed of twelve members chosen each year, uses the June festivals—the Porchetta Festival and the Fried Food Festival—to support the patronal celebrations; attending means contributing to the life of the Vallerano community.

Vallerano, a Tuscia village between chestnut groves and tuff

Vallerano is a medieval village of just over two thousand inhabitants nestled on the slopes of the Cimini Mountains, about 18 kilometers from Viterbo. Best known for its PDO chestnuts and the historic center clustered around the Church of Madonna del Ruscello, the village truly shines during its festivals. The event is the perfect opportunity to explore the narrow alleys, cellars carved into the tuff, and views of the Tuscia countryside, perhaps combining your visit with nearby villages like Vignanello, Canepina, and Soriano nel Cimino.

Why visit

Because it is an authentic festival, run by local people rather than professional catering services: generous portions, affordable prices, and a family atmosphere. And because frying in Vallerano is serious business: crispy, light, and prepared to order, best enjoyed at the Municipal Garden tables on early summer evenings.