Marino is an Italian city and a commune in Lazio, roughly 21 kilometers from Rome. It is located on the Alban Hills so it offers scenic overlooking views of neighboring towns and cities.
 |
| Sagra dell'Uva di Marino |
Every year, the Sagra dell'Uva di Marino, also known as the Marino Wine Festival, is held in this city and was first staged in 1925. It is usually celebrated on the first Sunday of October. Thousands of people from all over the region flock to this annual grape event and festival. It also attracts tourists from different parts of Europe.
In 2022, the festival took place on October 2, which also happened to be my birthday. So when a couple of people invited me to join them, I immediately said yes.
From Rome, it was a 20 to 30-minute drive going to the city of Marino. But it took us longer to get to the city because the traffic was so bad and there were lots of road closures due to the festival. At one point, we had to take a detour because a lot of the roads going to the city were closed and barricaded. The detour had stunning views so it worked out quite well.
 |
| Lake Albano |
By the time we arrived in Marino, the festival was already in full swing. As it does every year, the event opens with a religious procession with people in traditional costumes. As the night falls, it becomes a fun celebration with music. There were also some park rides for kids and adults to enjoy.
The highlight of the event is the Fountain of the Four Moors which gushes white wine to be distributed freely amongst the festival goers.
 |
| The Fountain of the Four Moors |
Of course, I had to try some festival food. I had the porchetta, a traditional Italian dish, featuring a slice of savory, fatty, and moist boneless pork.
 |
| Porchetta, a must-try in Italy |
It was such a fun night as we drank good but cheap wine and watched the performances of some local bands. It was a super memorable experience for me and I was so thankful that it was how I celebrated my birthday.
If ever you're in Rome on the first Sunday of October, I would definitely recommend going to the Sagra dell'Uva di Marino. You can get there by train from Termini Station in Rome. The train ride is about 35 minutes.
Going to a festival or an event is something that everyone should definitely experience while traveling in another country.
0 Comments