The aroma of the open oven, the freshly baked ciambella, and a traditional dish that few kitchens in Lazio still know how to prepare properly. On September 12 and 13, the small village of Cretone (RM), in the heart of Roman Sabina, hosts the Festa del Ciammellocco, two days dedicated to the region’s most time-honored flavors.
There are two stars of the show: the longarini, a pasta dish that symbolizes Cretone cuisine and is the centerpiece of the food stands, and the Ciammellocco, the traditional peasant-style ring cake made with flour, eggs, anise, lemon, and extra-virgin olive oil from Sabina. A simple, long-lasting dessert, created to accompany long days in the fields and passed down from generation to generation without anyone ever feeling the need to change the recipe. During the festival, it will be freshly baked, just as grandmothers used to do, and visitors will be able to watch it being prepared right before their eyes.
The program isn’t limited to food. Along the streets of the historic center , there will be a mix of live music, performances, and reenactments in medieval costume, with participants bringing scenes from the town’s past to life, transforming the festival into something more like a journey through time than a simple village celebration.
Cretone is worth a visit even beyond the event: the village is known for its historic thermal baths , whose sulfur-rich waters were already prized in the times of the Sabines and the ancient Romans, and for its countryside dotted with orchards and olive groves. A stroll through the narrow streets of the historic center is enough to understand why this corner of Lazio continues to attract those seeking a getaway far from the beaten path.
