Autumn Festivals Near Rome: Chestnuts, Porcini Mushrooms and Polenta This Weekend

Autumn brings Rome and its surroundings a busy calendar of village festivals, featuring chestnuts, porcini mushrooms, grapes and polenta. As reported by Il Messaggero, the first weekend of October offers several destinations in the area around Rome.

Chestnuts, Grapes and Tacchie with Mushrooms

In Soriano nel Cimino, the Sagra delle Castagne begins, which from October 2 to 18 enlivens the four districts of the town with exhibitions, concerts, market stalls and performances by flag-wavers. In Zagarolo, the Sagra dell'Uva returns instead, now in its 82nd edition: from Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4, from 6 PM, Piazza Indipendenza and the 16 taverns in the historic center offer entertainment, workshops for children and local products.

In Bellegra, during the first two weekends of October (2, 3, 4 and then 9, 10, 11), the Sagra delle Tacchie e Funghi Porcini is celebrated: fresh local pasta topped with porcini mushrooms from the area, accompanied by craft market stalls and musical performances. The complete menu, at 22 euros, includes polenta crostini with mushrooms, a plate of tacchie with porcini and a meat second course, plus water or wine.

Porchetta and Polenta

In Poggio Bustone, from October 2 to 4, the 76th Sagra della Porchetta takes place, with moments dedicated to Saint Francis, visits to historic wineries and the gastronomic route of the Banchetto di Poggio Bustone 1208.

In Monteflavio, the event is the Sagra della Polenta, as reported by RomaToday.

Those looking for a sweet break can head to Viterbo instead, where CioccoTuscia brings showcooking and a cosplay competition to Piazza San Lorenzo on October 3, 4, 10 and 17. Finally, in Pisoniano on October 3, the Sagra della Pasta, Fagioli e Cotiche returns, with folk music and fireworks in the village of Monti Prenestini.