Some pagan cults and other religious ones have been handed down for centuries in the territory of Tuscia, transformed in time or handed down by tradition in folk and religious events. Alongside to these cultural events that at the same time are able to enhance the artistic heritage of a land rich in history and craft traditions. A varied repertoire, sometimes linked to the recurrences of the religious calendar or the origin of ancient agricultural and pastoral traditions. Throughout the year there are many festivities that are celebrated, each with a particular connotation, each with a particular scent, taste and color, absolutely to be enjoyed and savored.
THE PURGATORY LUNCH
Where: Gradoli. When: Ash Wednesday (February/March). Since the Middle Ages, at the conclusion of the festivities of the world upside down or downward (as the carnival was called), in the first day of Lent took place the Purgatory Lunch, in order to make common penance. The meal of penance eaten in honor of the souls in Purgatory allowed to collect some offers, once intended for prayers for the souls in Purgatory, today used to help needy people. The menu, unchanged over the centuries, provides all dishes of lean meat made with typical local products: tinca broth, white beans with oil, roasted and stewed codfish, fried fish and typical sweets accompanied by wines from the Grechetto area and Aleatico Di Gradoli.
MERCA'S FESTIVAL
Where: Tarquinia (Roccaccia locality). When: first Sunday of April. Between culture and folklore, this event relives the branding of livestock between competitions and equestrian shows, with the performance of a buttery riding a horse for the branding of calves in the wild. The attachment to the territory of the figure of the buttero is clear: it exalts the bond between man and horse in all its pride, connected with the playful and propitiatory element of the spring festivals.
SAN PELLEGRINO IN FIORE
Where: Viterbo. When: Weekend of the week of May 1st.
An unusual floral itinerary set in the streets and squares of the medieval district of Viterbo. The ability and the inventiveness of numerous flower-nursery artists give life to evocative floral views that frame and embellish the district of San Pellegrino. The importance of this event has been in time connected to other events and initiatives such as the passage of the Mille Miglia, historical re-enactments, tasting of typical products of Tuscia.
BARABBATA OR FEAST OF THE MADONNA DEL MONTE
Where: Marta When: May 14th.
The feast of Barabbata is a mixture of sacred and profane elements to bring us back to the Etruscan rituals of the fertility and the cycle of the seasons. The party takes place with a carriages procession, each representative local work activity. Casenghi's groups (agricultural estate overseers) parade one after the other, of the Bifolchi (those who plow and work the land with the plow pulled by oxen), of the Villani (those that work as farmers in large farms) and Fishermen. The procession moves from the country to the sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, ending with a banquet.
PIACERE ETRUSCO
Concurrent with San Pellegrino in Fiore, the Chamber of Commerce organizes Piacere Etrusco. A event held in the historic center of Viterbo wishing to present the territory to visitors through the flavors and the Arts. Besides a rich promotion and sale of manufacturing excellences, there are moments of animation for children, and for older people menus tasting, based on typical products of the Wine Bars, Restaurants and Taste Shops of the historic center of Viterbo.
PUGNALONI
Where: Acquapendente. When: 3rd Sunday of May.
In the distant 1166 the population of Acquapendente managed to free itself definitively from the control of the governor of Federico Barbarossa. The signal for the revolt was the miraculous blossoming of a cherry tree which used to be dead. Since then the Acquesiani, to thank the Madonna, gave birth to the feast of the Madonna del Fiore, characterized by a procession of "Pugnali", tools decorated with flowers. After centuries the The theme of the ancient liberation is remembered today with the procession of the Pugnalis, which became Pugnaloni, beautiful mosaics of flower petals and leaves that represent the main folk element of the ancient party. These wonderful works, created by groups competing for the best work, can be seen for the whole year in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.
CAFFEINE CULTURE FESTIVAL
Where: Viterbo. When: end of June-beginning of July.
Ten days of global culture, ideas and debates, animate the streets and squares of the center of Viterbo. Many daily events feature the presence of journalists, writers, actors, musicians, performers, and national and international artists. The festival is a great cultural opportunity, running through the streets of the historic center, a proper party in honor of books, music, entertainment, theater, for adults and children.
TUSCIA FILM FEST
Where: Viterbo and other villages in the province. When: first half of July. It is a film festival since 2004. The program is articulated in the heart of Viterbo over nine days of projections and meetings with key players of the Italian cinema. Every year, within the festival, the Pipolo Tuscia Cinema Award is assigned to a personality emerging from the Italian cinema, dedicated to Giuseppe Moccia, known as Pipolo, who, alongwith Franco Castellano, was a screenwriter for many Italian films.
THE MYSTERIES OF SANTA CRISTINA
Where: Bolsena. When: 23 and 24 July.
The solemnity of Santa Cristina in Bolsena, on July 24th, is still the biggest, the most singular, the most hard felt by the population. Every year, on the evening of 23 July and the morning of the following day, the actions of the bolsenese martyr relive in the imagination of his fellow citizens through a very ancient stage action, truely reminiscent, popularly called "Mysteries". The "Misteri" evoke, in a dozen plastic pictures on occasional stages in the historical center, the young Cristina martyridoms: she survived everything until the Lord allowed her to be killed by the arrows of her executioners. The stage performances are traditionally entrusted to the citizens of Bolsena, dressed in Roman costumes. The scenes come alive with silent and static characters: Santa Cristina floats on the stone in the lake, the torture of the wheel, the prison, the torture of the furnace, the devils, the scourging, destruction of idols, asps, death by arrows, Glory.
EST FILM FESTIVAL
Where: Montefiascone. When: end of July
Born in 2007, its name derives from the wine Est! Est!! Est!!! produced in Montefiascone. The Festival is divided into three sections, which compete for five prizes: Feature Films (exclusively reserved to Italian first works), Short Films and Documentaries. To these is added the section of the Special Encounters, dedicated to meetings with the most prestigious protagonists of Italian and international cinema.
THE NIGHT OF THE CANDLES
Where: Vallerano. When: end of August.
It is a unique event of its kind and of great charm. An intimate and surreal atmosphere with the little flames that enhance the contours of the arches, houses and churches, frame the doors and windows following the stretches of steps and alleys. A magical journey that guides the public to discover an artistic journey between sounds, images and emotions. At dusk every light in Vallerano goes out and the village is lit by 100,000 candles and a starry sky.
SANTA ROSA
Where: Viterbo. When: 3 September.
Among the folkloristic events of the territory, one of the most important is undoubtedly the Santa Rosa Machine. Every year on 3 September, at 9.00 pm, is shoulder carried through the dark streets of the city by about 100 men, called Facchini, a so-called "machine", a tower about 30 meters high and weighing over five tons covered with hundreds of lights on. On the top of the machine is the statue of Saint Rosa, patron of the city. The journey of over a kilometer with five stops, sees the crowd in the squares or on the sides of the streets waiting to see the passage of the machine that exceeds the city buildings in height. The transport recalls what occurred on 4 September 1258 when the remains of the Saint are miraculously incorruptthey were moved from the church of Santa Maria in Poggio, to the church of San Damiano. That event marked the first triumphal passage of Rosa through the streets of Viterbo and was repeated every year. Since then, in memory of this procession, a processional canopy was brought with the image of the Saint, that with passing time has become more and more magnificent and above all increasingly high. The last part of the transport is the more gripping: the ascent that leads to the church of Santa Rosa. All the facchini are engaged for about 100 meters to, while running, carry, push and tow the machine, reaching the churchyard in front of the church greeted by warm hugs and congratulations for the hard work. The first transport of a tower called "machine" in the sense of a scenic apparatus dates back to 1664, probably realized as a vow made by the viterbesi to patroness for having escaped the terrible plague epidemic of 1657. Since then, both in the search for new materials as well as new form, the machine has increasingly been transformed following the artistic fashions of the time, renewed or re-proposed today every five years. The facchini, intrepid "knights of the saint", every year they undergo a transport test of 140 kg of weight in order to be admitted to the real transport. Their uniform is characterized by a white shirt, a white handkerchief on the head, a red band at the waist, white zuva trousers, white socks and black leather boots. In the days before transport, other events related to the celebrations of the patron saint take place. Since 1921, the afternoon of September 2, the heart of Santa Rosa, kept in a precious reliquary, is brought into procession. Since the 70s a historical procession is also part of this one representing personalities and authorities who, since 1200, paid homage to the event of the translation of the body of the Saint.
MEDIEVAL OTTAVA
Where: Orte. When: End of August, second week of September.
So called for the eight days of celebration in honor of Sant'Egidio, Patron of Orte, between history and tradition, culture and folklore. The medieval town, from the top of the tufaceous spur on which it is built, changes its appearance, making you dive in the middle of the 14th century with historical re-enactments, parades, and tournaments. Beyond the historical procession with figures dressed with 1300s attire, the Ottava proposes the Palio degli Arcieri and it is each year of enormous suggestion. The event historical-re-evocative of the Octave, solemnized in 1396 by Pope Boniface IX, also proposes for the whole of the duration of the event, the nocturnal opening of cultural structures such as the Diocesan Museum and the one of the Confraternities, as well as exhibitions of painting, sculpture and ceramics. As per best tradition, the event seals the charm of the re-enactment with the opening to the public of the taverns in each of the seven districts in which the city is divided. In addition to the historical-architectural value, each tavern, managed directly by the contradaioli, is distinguished by dishes with ancient flavors and traditions.
CAFFEINE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
Where: Viterbo. When: End of November - 6 January.
The historic center, on the occasion of Christmas festivities, turns into a fairy place for the young and old. The Caffeina Christmas Village, an enchanted village, where the magic of Christmas reigns, is made possible through the settings of fairy-tale places like the house of Santa Claus, the house of the Elves, the post offices, the toy factory, the dragon's den, the Taverna of the Gioco, the Wish Library, the crib and many other attractions. The streets of the center offer hospitality and treats even for the adults with the Christmas markets and food and wine delights of Tuscia.
LIVE NATIVITY
During the Christmas period, nativity scenes are set up in the villages of Tuscia, a historical re-enactment of the Nativity.We mention a few among many: Chia (Soriano nel Cimino), Civita di Bagnoregio, Sutri, Corchiano, Ronciglione and Montefiascone. When the exhibitions of artistic nativity scenes are held, recommended to see is the exhibition of the 100 nativity scenes at the Madonna della Quercia Sanctuary (Viterbo).
FESTIVALS OF WINE, CHESTNUT AND OIL OF TUSCIA
In recent years the Chamber of Commerce has promoted and coordinated the realization of a series of events aimed at the promotion of the territory and its ancient traditions and the enhancement of typical local products, with particular reference to wine, oil and chestnut. The Tuscia Wine Festivals are held from the end of July to the middle of August in the municipalities of Acquapendente, Lubriano, Civitella d'Agliano, Gradoli, Tarquinia, Montefiascone, Castiglione in Teverina and Vignanello. During all the wine festivals there are wine tastings opportunities conducted by expert sommeliers and the participation of specialized journalists. Participation in these events offers the opportunity to discover the typical local products in the food and wine stands, to visit the numerous wineries and vineyards and to take part in folkloric performances. The Chestnut Festival of Tuscia takes place between October and November in Soriano al Cimino, Canepina, Vallerano, San Martino al Cimino, Latera and Caprarola. The program consists of Over 150 attractions including food and wine stands, historical re-enactments, music and shows, conferences, guided tours to historic buildings, dinners in taverns and roast chestnuts in the square for everyone. An opportunity for tourists and visitors to spend pleasant days tasting the typical products of Tuscia, take walks in the Cimini mountains and appreciate tasty recipes. The Tuscia Oil Festivals take place in Blera, Canino, Gallese, Vetralla and Vignanello from the early days in November to the middle of December. Between wine and food stands, tastings of typical products, meetings and visits to the oil mills, the oil festivals are an excellent opportunity to taste the new oil and to gather supplies for the whole year directly from the producer.
For all the other important events of Tuscia: www.tusciawelcome.it
