Wild Asparagus Festival
April 25th in Montopoli di Sabina: wild Sabina asparagus, PDO olive oil, and a medieval village setting
About Wild Asparagus Festival
A spring festival in the heart of Sabina
The Wild Asparagus Festival is one of the most anticipated spring events in the Rieti area. It takes place every year on April 25th, Liberation Day, in the historic center of Montopoli di Sabina, a town in the province of Rieti overlooking the Tiber Valley in Lazio. It is organized by the Pro Loco Montopoli di Sabina Tourist Association, which for over a decade has turned this day into a draw for visitors not only from neighboring Sabina towns but also from Rome and beyond.
Wild asparagus, the absolute star
The wild asparagus that gives the festival its name is not farmed: it is foraged. In the weeks leading up to the festival, expert gatherers scour the woods, hedgerows, and olive terraces of Sabina to fill bundles of thin spears, known for their characteristic bittersweet flavor that distinguishes them from cultivated varieties. It is a humble, seasonal product tied to local knowledge passed down through families, finding its most authentic expression in the festival menu.
The festival menu
The gastronomic menu, served at a fixed price, is entirely built around wild asparagus, prepared according to local traditions:
- Wild asparagus risotto, one of the day's signature dishes
- Asparagus frittata, simple and hearty
- Pan-seared asparagus as a side dish, sautéed with oil and garlic
- Platters of local Sabina cured meats and cheeses
- Homemade bread and Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil, one of Italy's oldest olive oil denominations
Tastings take place under covered structures and marquees set up by the Pro Loco, ensuring service even in case of bad weather—a key detail for a late-April festival.
Music, village charm, and guided tours
Alongside the food, the day features musical entertainment with groups performing traditional Roman and Sabina folk music, accompanying lunch and the afternoon with songs, humor, and popular repertoire. The historic center remains open for strolling: you can climb up to the Torre Ugonesca and the Casa del Capitano, with access to the top of the tower offering panoramic views of neighboring villages, Sabina olive groves, and, on clear days, the Tiber Valley.
The Fiat 500 gathering
The festival also hosts the «Memorial Vincenzo Cecchini» Fiat 500 Gathering, organized in collaboration with the Fiat 500 Club Italia — Magliano Sabina Coordination. Vintage cars parade through the village streets and are put on display, with commemorative gadgets for participants—an addition that has brought color to the day and expanded the event's audience.
Why it's worth the trip
Montopoli di Sabina is a medieval village just over an hour from Rome, and the festival is the perfect opportunity to discover it. It is not a massive event or a commercial fair: it is a village feast in the truest sense, where the Pro Loco cooks prepare the dishes themselves and the value for money reflects a welcoming community. Those who arrive early find parking more easily and can combine the day with a walk through the Sabina olive groves or a stop in other valley villages.
Wild Asparagus Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 Wild Asparagus Festival was held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Montopoli di Sabina (RI), confirming the event's historic date, which coincides with Liberation Day. The organization was handled as always by the Pro Loco Montopoli di Sabina Tourist Association.
Service began at lunchtime and continued throughout the afternoon, with tastings under the covered structures set up in the village. The star was the fixed-price menu based on wild asparagus—risottos, frittatas, side dishes—accompanied by local cured meats and cheeses, homemade bread, and Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil. The day was accompanied by musical entertainment of popular tradition and the opportunity to freely visit the historic center, the Torre Ugonesca, and the Casa del Capitano, with access to the top of the tower and a view over the valley.
The event was joined by the «Memorial Vincenzo Cecchini» Fiat 500 Gathering, organized with the Fiat 500 Club Italia — Magliano Sabina Coordination: a parade of historic cars through the village streets, an exhibition, and commemorative gadgets for participating crews.
Programme Wild Asparagus Festival 2026
Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Morning — opening of the village to visitors; arrival and gathering of vintage Fiat 500s for the «Memorial Vincenzo Cecchini» (Fiat 500 Club Italia, Magliano Sabina Coordination)
- Lunchtime — opening of food stalls and service of the fixed-price menu based on wild asparagus, under covered structures
- Afternoon — popular musical entertainment along the streets of the historic center; parade of vintage cars
- All day — guided tours of the historic center, the Torre Ugonesca, and the Casa del Capitano, with access to the top of the tower and views over the Sabina region
Precise times for individual moments were not released as a detailed schedule: the event unfolds throughout the day starting from lunch.
Highlights Wild Asparagus Festival 2026
- Fixed-price gastronomic menu entirely dedicated to wild asparagus harvested in the Sabina woods
- Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, and cured meats from the Rieti area
- «Memorial Vincenzo Cecchini» Fiat 500 Gathering with the Fiat 500 Club Italia
- Climb to the Torre Ugonesca and visit to the Casa del Capitano
- Musical entertainment of Roman and Sabina popular tradition
- Indoor tastings, guaranteed even in case of bad weather
Prices Wild Asparagus Festival 2026
Practical information — Wild Asparagus Festival
How to get there
By car: from the A1 Milan-Naples motorway, take the Ponzano Romano-Soratte exit, then follow the SS313 Ternana and provincial roads towards Montopoli di Sabina (about 20 minutes); from Rome, you can take the Via Salaria (SS4) up to Passo Corese and continue inland. The journey from Rome takes about an hour and fifteen minutes.
By train: take the FL1 Rome-Orte line to Fara Sabina-Montelibretti station, then use local transport or a taxi to reach the village (the station is a few kilometers from the historic center).
Parking
The historic center is pedestrianized and narrow: it is best to leave your car in the parking areas on the outskirts of the village and walk up. On the day of the festival, traffic may be diverted for the passage of vintage cars.
Costs
Free entry to the event and village tours. Tastings are paid for via a fixed-price menu or tickets at the food stalls. Climbing the Torre Ugonesca has been offered free of charge in recent editions.
Tips
Arrive by lunchtime when service begins. Wear comfortable shoes for the uphill alleys and bring a light jacket: in late April, the hills can get chilly in the evening. Information and confirmation: Pro Loco Montopoli di Sabina, tel. +39 333 2343756 or the association's Facebook page.
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