Wild Boar Pappardelle Festival

A spring Sunday in the heart of the Sabina region

The Wild Boar Pappardelle Festival is one of the most anticipated events on the calendar in Nerola, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region, nestled in the hills of the Sabina area about fifty kilometers from the capital. The event traditionally takes place on a Sunday in late March, transforming Piazza San Sebastiano into a large open-air dining room, where the village lunch becomes a meeting point for residents, hikers, and visitors arriving from Rome and neighboring towns.

The signature dish: Nerola-style wild boar pappardelle

The undisputed star of the day is the Nerola-style wild boar pappardelle, wide, hand-rolled pasta tossed in a slow-cooked sauce that tells the story of the hunting and farming culture of the Sabina mountains. For those who prefer a simpler flavor, the festival also offers a version with tomato sauce and grated cheese, ensuring that even children and those who do not enjoy game meat can join the table.

Alongside the main course, the festival kitchen features a range of local specialties:

• Grilled sausage served steaming hot with sautéed field chicory;
• Bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil from Nerola—one of the most iconic products of the Sabina region—and olive pâté;
• Artisan desserts prepared by local cooks and baked in a traditional wood-fired oven;
• Nutella crêpes for a children's snack;
• Local wine from regional wineries.

Live music, markets, and crafts

The festival is about more than just food. Throughout the event, the square is filled with live music, while a vibrant craft market winds through the village streets, accompanied by stalls from local producers selling oil, preserves, cheeses, honey, and handmade creations. Participation in the market is free for exhibitors, a choice that has encouraged the presence of local artisans and small businesses over the years.

The village and Castello Orsini

One of the reasons this festival is so special is its setting. Nerola preserves a medieval historic center made of narrow alleys, arches, and stairways, dominated by the imposing Castello Orsini, a fortress that has watched over the valley since the 13th century and is now the symbol of the town. Between courses, it is only natural to take a stroll toward the castle, enjoying the panoramic views over the Sabina hills and the Lucretili Mountains.

A festival built by the community

The organization is entrusted to the ACN - Associazione Culturale Nerola, an organization that has been promoting events and popular festivals in the town for about twenty years, with the patronage of the municipal administration. The festival is the result of the voluntary work of dozens of local people, from the cooks who roll the pasta to the young people serving at the tables: a model of community celebration that is still very much alive in the villages of inland Lazio.

Why it's worth the trip

For those living in Rome, the Wild Boar Pappardelle Festival is the perfect day trip: just over an hour's drive, a genuine lunch at affordable prices, a village to explore on foot, and the chance to bring home olive oil and local products. Those with more time can continue exploring the Sabina region, discovering abbeys, ancient olive groves, and other hilltop villages like Montelibretti, Montorio Romano, and Ponticelli.