On Saturday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m., the lids come off the huge pots in the historic center of Pisoniano. Inside is pasta and beans with pork rinds—a thick stew to be eaten with a spoon: one of those soups that “bring you back to life.”
The village is about 50 km from Rome: take the A24 toward L’Aquila, exit at Castel Madama, and follow Via Empolitana. In about 45 minutes, you’ll be seated at the table. The festivities continue until 11:30 p.m., but the time to mark on your calendar is another: 10:30 p.m., when the fireworks begin.
Pork rinds, porchetta, and wine from the hills: the menu of one of Lazio’s festivals, now in its 30th year
“Nothing from the pig goes to waste,” says the old peasant proverb, and here the pork rinds are proof of that. They’re blanched and scraped clean with care, then sautéed with celery and onion in oil from the Prenestine Mountains and just a splash of tomato.
If the soup isn’t enough for you, the food stands also serve sandwiches with porchetta and sausage, French fries, homemade desserts, and wine from the surrounding hills. The soundtrack is live music in the square.
Who’s Behind the Big Pots: The Village Festival Near Rome Organized by the Confraternity of the Rosary
The festival is organized by volunteers from the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, and it’s no coincidence that it falls on the first Saturday in October. Historically, in fact, the dinner kicks off the celebrations for the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, the village’s most cherished autumn festival.
It is this intertwining of devotion and good food that gives the evening its unique character: in the square, there aren’t just visitors, but an entire town coming together.
Pisoniano, or “Pisciàno”: the village at 532 meters that turns dinner into a day trip
That’s what its just over 700 residents call it in the local dialect. The official name, however, is said to derive from the Roman consul Lucius Calpurnius Piso, who is said to have had a villa here. The town is perched at 532 meters on the eastern slope of Mount Guadagnolo and is divided into neighborhoods with curious names: il Borgo, il Castellucciu, la Scaramella, and even l’Africa.
Fireworks at 10:30 p.m., how to get there, and other practical information about the event
- When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Fireworks: 10:30 p.m.
- Where: historic center of Pisoniano (RM).
- Admission: free; meals are paid for at the food stands.
- By car: A24 toward L’Aquila, Castel Madama exit, then Via Empolitana to km 21
- Good to know: At an elevation of over 500 meters, October evenings are cooler than in the city. It’s a good idea to bring a sweatshirt in the car.
If you’re already planning your next food festivals near Rome, you’ll find this season’s dates in our guide to food festivals in and around Rome. For other weekend events, find out what to do this weekend in Rome. And if you’re looking for ideas for the coming autumn Saturdays, check out our list of things to do in Rome in October.
