Sagra delle Castagne Festival 2026, Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

• 2 octobre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• 18 octobre 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

Sagra delle Castagne Festival 2026 is the 59th edition of Soriano nel Cimino’s historic chestnut festival, combining local food, medieval and Renaissance traditions, historical reenactments, contrada competitions, markets and cultural events.

The festival takes place across the historic centre of Soriano nel Cimino, with the four traditional districts playing a central role in the celebrations. Visitors can experience chestnut-based dishes, roasted chestnuts, traditional tavern meals, historical costumes, flag performances, musicians, fire performers, archers, knights and the famous Palio delle Contrade.

The 2026 programme also includes the Convivium Secretum, an exclusive food-and-history experience held in the contrade taverns, as well as markets, guided tours, exhibitions, historical demonstrations and the final roasted-chestnut tasting.

Dates des événements

Dates des festivals : October 2 – October 18, 2026

Edition: 59th edition

The 2026 festival is organised across the first, second and third weekends of October, with additional cultural and food-related activities incorporated into the programme.

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Lieu et site du festival

Lieu principal : Historic centre of Soriano nel Cimino

Province: Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Main festival areas include:

• Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
• Via della Rocca
• Castello Orsini
• Viale Vittorio Emanuele III
• Piazzale Belvedere
• Teatro Florida
• Campo de li Giochi, Loc. Giannotti
• The four historic contrade and their taverns

The event is integrated into the medieval town rather than concentrated in one enclosed festival ground. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is particularly important for ceremonies, performances, historical scenes and the main public celebrations.

Programme complet de restauration et de boissons

Food is one of the central attractions of Sagra delle Castagne, with the four contrade operating traditional taverns and offering dishes associated with Soriano and the wider Viterbo area.

The 2026 programme includes the Convivium Secretum, an 18th-edition gastronomic experience that takes visitors through historic flavours and atmospheres in the taverns of the contrade.

The programme also includes:

• Roasted chestnuts
• Chestnut-based soups
• Chestnut desserts
• Polenta with wild-boar ragù
• Pasta with wild-boar sauces
• Gnocchi prepared in traditional local styles
• Plats de viande
• Sausages
• Traditional regional recipes
• Local wine and drinks
• Charity dinners hosted by local organisations

The final programme also includes a dedicated roasted-chestnut tasting in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

Aliments et spécialités en vedette

Roasted chestnuts

The festival’s signature food is the traditional caldarroste, or roasted chestnuts, prepared and served during the celebrations.

Chestnut and chickpea soup

One of the traditional dishes served in the contrada taverns combines chickpeas with chestnuts for a hearty autumn preparation.

Polenta with wild boar

Wild-boar ragù served with polenta is another characteristic dish found in the traditional taverns.

Pasta with wild boar

Traditional pasta dishes include pappardelle and other local pasta preparations accompanied by wild-boar sauces.

Chestnut desserts

The festival also features sweet preparations using chestnuts, including traditional chestnut rolls and other seasonal desserts.

Restaurants, vendeurs et producteurs

The festival’s food scene is closely connected to Soriano’s four historic contrade, each of which operates its own tavern.

Contrada Papacqua

The tavern associated with Papacqua offers traditional dishes connected with the local cuisine and festival traditions.

Contrada San Giorgio

The Taverna delle Acque serves dishes including gnocchi with ragù, polenta with wild boar, pappardelle, chickpea and chestnut soup, local pasta preparations, wild-boar stew, chops and sausages.

Contrada Trinità

The Taverna della Vecchietta offers traditional preparations including strozzapreti, gnocchi, soup, polenta and chestnut-based desserts.

Rione Rocca

The Taverna dell’Orso serves dishes such as trofie alla gricia, chickpea and chestnut soup, beef stew with chestnuts, chestnut jam dessert and polenta with wild-boar ragù.

Visitors can also find artistic markets, food-related events and local community activities throughout the historic centre.

Sélection de vins, bières et boissons

Traditional meals at the contrada taverns are accompanied by drinks suited to the local cuisine and autumn atmosphere.

The festival is particularly suited to visitors who want to combine chestnut dishes with Italian wine and other traditional beverages while dining in historic neighbourhood taverns.

The Convivium Secretum provides a more structured gastronomic experience, taking guests between selected contrada taverns and combining food with the atmosphere and traditions of historic Soriano.

Dégustations, démonstrations culinaires et ateliers

Convivium Secretum

The Convivium Secretum is the festival’s principal dedicated gastronomic experience. It is designed as a historical food journey through the traditional taverns of the contrade, combining local dishes with the atmosphere and heritage of the town.

Roasted chestnut tasting

A dedicated caldarroste tasting is included in the closing programme in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

Expériences culinaires traditionnelles

The contrada taverns provide opportunities to experience local recipes prepared around chestnuts, wild boar, polenta, pasta and other seasonal ingredients.

Historical food culture

Food experiences are closely connected with the festival’s broader medieval and Renaissance theme, making the event more than a conventional food fair.

Types de billets et options d’entrée

The festival combines free public activities with separately ticketed historical performances and special experiences.

Published 2026 admission prices convert approximately as follows:

• Opening ceremony: $3
• Historical musicians and sword-fighters performance: $7
• Palio delle Contrade: $6
• Historical reenactment: $7
• Historical parade: $14
• Popular Games between the four contrade: $5
• Drums, Swords, Flags and Fire: $7
• Convivium Secretum: $29 per evening
• Two-evening Convivium Secretum package: $46
• Roasted chestnut tasting: Included as a programme activity

Many markets, exhibitions, street activities and daytime cultural events are listed without an admission charge.

Expériences VIP et premium

The festival does not operate a conventional VIP ticket programme.

The closest premium experience is the Convivium Secretum, an exclusive gastronomic journey through selected contrada taverns. Participation requires advance reservation and combines traditional food with the historical atmosphere of the festival.

The historical parade, Palio and major evening reenactments are also separately ticketed experiences, while many other festival activities remain open to visitors without a separate admission ticket.

Règles de l’épreuve

Visitors should follow the instructions of festival organisers, contrada volunteers, security personnel and event staff.

Parmi les considérations importantes figurent :

• Follow access instructions for ticketed performances.
• Advance reservation is required for the Convivium Secretum.
• Follow safety instructions around horses, archers, weapons displays, fire performances and historical reenactments.
• Keep clear of restricted performance and competition areas.
• Visitors requiring access to the dedicated accessibility platform should make the required reservation.
• Follow parking and camper instructions in designated areas.
• Programme details may be modified by the organisers.

The festival is a live historical reenactment, so some performances involve horses, weapons, fire and large processions. Visitors should remain within designated spectator areas during these activities.

Comment y arriver

En voiture : Soriano nel Cimino is located in the province of Viterbo in Lazio and is accessible by road from Viterbo and the wider Lazio region.

From Viterbo: Viterbo is the nearest major city and provides a convenient base for visitors travelling to the festival.

De Rome : Visitors arriving from Rome can travel north toward Viterbo and continue to Soriano nel Cimino by road.

By camper: A designated camper parking area is available on Via Luigi Pirandello. The official programme notes that the parking areas are not equipped facilities, so visitors using campers should plan accordingly.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Car parking: The official programme lists parking at Loc. Casalaccio.

Camper parking: Dedicated camper parking is listed on Via Luigi Pirandello.

Transports en commun : Visitors using public transportation can travel toward Viterbo and continue to Soriano nel Cimino using regional connections.

Because the festival occupies the historic centre and surrounding streets, visitors should expect increased pedestrian traffic and possible temporary traffic restrictions. Using designated parking areas is recommended rather than attempting to drive into the central festival areas.

Zones d’hébergement

Soriano nel Cimino: The most convenient choice for visitors who want to remain close to the festival’s historic centre, taverns and evening events.

Viterbo: A practical larger-city base with hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and additional transport connections.

Vitorchiano: A nearby hill town suitable for visitors looking for a quieter stay in the Tuscia area.

Bomarzo: Another option for visitors exploring the surrounding countryside and historic attractions.

Rome: Suitable for visitors making the festival part of a wider Lazio trip, although travelling from Rome requires more time than staying locally.

Booking early is advisable because the festival spans several weekends and attracts visitors interested in both the food and historical programme.

Temps forts de la nourriture et des boissons

The strongest food experiences are concentrated around the four contrada taverns.

Visitors should look for:

• Roasted chestnuts
• Chickpea and chestnut soup
• Chestnut desserts
• Polenta with wild-boar ragù
• Pappardelle with wild boar
• Traditional gnocchi
• Strozzapreti
• Beef with chestnuts
• Wild-boar stew
• Local sausages and grilled meats
• Traditional seasonal dishes

The combination of chestnuts, wild boar, polenta and handmade pasta reflects the autumn cuisine of the Monti Cimini area. The contrada taverns provide a particularly important part of the festival’s food identity.

Accessibilité

The festival provides a dedicated accessibility platform in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II for people with reduced or impaired mobility.

Access to the platform is reserved for eligible visitors and one accompanying person, with advance reservation required through the contact listed by the organisers.

Because the event takes place throughout the historic centre, visitors should be aware that some streets, squares and historic areas may have uneven surfaces or pedestrian restrictions. Contacting the organisers in advance is recommended for specific accessibility requirements.

Meilleurs jours à assister

Opening weekend: The opening programme introduces the festival with the blessing and investiture ceremony involving the archers and knights, followed by markets, falconry demonstrations and the Palio delle Contrade.

Second weekend: This period combines markets, guided tours, historical performances, the historical reenactment and the national historical-book award.

Third weekend: The final weekend is particularly important for food-focused visitors because it includes the Convivium Secretum, traditional contrada activities, popular games, historical performances and the final roasted-chestnut tasting.

For food lovers: The Convivium Secretum and the closing chestnut tasting provide two of the most distinctive gastronomic experiences in the programme.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The festival’s recent editions have maintained the combination of chestnut cuisine, historical reenactment and contrada traditions that define the event.

The historical parade is one of the signature attractions, with more than 700 costumed participants representing medieval and Renaissance characters, districts and historical scenes as the procession moves through the central square and old streets.

Recent programmes have also featured the Palio delle Contrade, flag-waving groups, musicians, fire performers, sword fighters, archers, knights, guided historical tours, antique markets and artistic markets.

Food remains central to the experience, with the four contrada taverns serving traditional recipes and the Convivium Secretum providing a dedicated gastronomic journey through the historic districts.

Billets officiels

Tickets for individual paid events and special experiences are published through the official Sagra delle Castagne programme and ticketing channels.

The 2026 programme identifies online ticket purchasing for several paid events, including the opening ceremony, historical performances, Palio delle Contrade, historical parade and Convivium Secretum.

Site officiel : https://www.sagradellecastagne.com/

Official programme: https://www.sagradellecastagne.com/en/programma/

Contact : info@sagradellecastagne.com

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