Vicalvi Crespella Festival

An evening of flavor at the foot of the Lombard castle

Within the 'Estate Vicalvese' calendar, the Crespella Festival is the event that brings the Ferragosto festivities to a sweet close. On the evening of August 17th, starting at 9:00 PM, the Square of the Church of San Rocco fills with tables, the scent of frying dough, and local chatter: this is where volunteers prepare and serve crespelle, following a recipe passed down from family to family. The initiative is promoted directly by the Vicalvi municipal administration, which curates a summer program each year designed for residents, returning emigrants, and tourists visiting the valley.

The crespella, queen of the Ciociarian table

The crespella is one of the most iconic dishes of Ciociarian cuisine: a very simple leavened dough—flour, water, yeast, and little else—left to rise, then hand-shaped and plunged into boiling oil until it becomes puffy and golden. It is enjoyed hot, either in a savory version or a sweet one, rolled in sugar. Born as a humble peasant dish, it is now a symbol of celebration throughout the province of Frosinone. While it is celebrated elsewhere in Ciociaria—such as the historic festival of Santa Francesca in Veroli, which takes place in the spring—the Vicalvi evening has a unique, intimate character, tied to the days of San Rocco and the church square that bears his name.

In the heart of the Estate Vicalvese

The festival is the grand finale of a summer full of events: the 2026 program includes a cabaret night at Parco Bosseto with the first Grilled Meat Festival and vintage car exhibition, the Pro Loco 'E via cantando' evening in Piazza Giovanni Paolo II, karaoke with a surprise culinary night, and the Ferragosto prize-winning briscola tournament in the historic center. It is a genuine, village-scale program where the Crespella Festival stands out as the most anticipated gastronomic moment.

Vicalvi, the sentinel village of the Comino Valley

Vicalvi is a small town of a few hundred inhabitants perched on a hill between the Fibreno Valley and the Comino Valley, on the Lazio side of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. The town is dominated by the Lombard castle, with the first records dating back to the 8th century. Once belonging to the monks of Montecassino and later to the Counts of Aquino, it is considered one of the greatest examples of medieval fortification in Lazio. Visiting Vicalvi for the festival also means enjoying one of the most beautiful panoramas of the valley from the village terrace, with the nearby Lake Posta Fibreno and the park mountains on the horizon.

Why attend

• Taste the authentic Ciociarian crespella, fried to order and served hot.
• Experience an authentic village festival, far from mass tourism circuits.
• Discover the Lombard castle and the historic center of Vicalvi.
• Combine the evening with a trip to the Comino Valley and Lake Posta Fibreno.