From 7 to 9 August 2026, the garden of Villa delle Sirene, on Lungomare Caboto, hosts the second stop of «Le Strade del Gusto e dell’Inclusione»: three evenings of a food and wine fair, from 19:00 to 24:00, with free admission. Fourteen stalls featuring delicacies from Lazio, served by forty young men and women for whom this isn’t just a game: it’s a trade they are learning.
It is not a food festival, it is a project
The event is promoted by Regione Lazio, ARSIAL (Regional Agency for Agricultural Development and Innovation of Lazio) and ASP – Istituti Riuniti del Lazio, together with Lazio Crea. The underlying idea is simple and concrete: the food and wine and hospitality sectors are among the best suited to build independence and job placement for people with disabilities.
For this reason, the forty participants are neither guests nor extras. Supported by expert tutors, they take care of welcoming guests, table service, and presenting the products: the three things that, in hospitality, set an ordinary service apart from an unforgettable evening. The guided tastings are the moment where they showcase what they have learned.
Behind this project is a network of local organisations: AIPD Sud Pontino (Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome), Liberautismo APS, and the Fondazione «Don Cosimino Fronzuto».
The fourteen fair stalls
The fair is open every evening from 19:00 to 24:00. Here is who you will find and what they bring:
- Spritz Aut, Brindiamo all’Inclusione — Associazione Liberautismo
- Tiella di Gaeta PAT e Votapiatto — Andale
- Colline Pontine DOP extra virgin olive oil and Olive di Gaeta DOP — Az. Agricola Cosmo Di Russo
- Lazio IGT wines — Casa Vinicola Ciccariello
- Seafood sandwiches and fried dishes from the Gulf — Marelì, Rosso Pontino
- Handcrafted artisanal products preserved in oil — Ichì
- Gourmet sandwiches with DOP and IGP specialties from Lazio — Ristorante Stato Brado
- Locally sourced jams from Sud Pontino — Cooperativa Sociale La Fonte
- Buffalo mozzarella, traditional cold cuts, and cheeses — AIPD Sud Pontino ETS-APS
- Artichokes of Sezze PAT — Azienda Agricola Luccone
- Sour cherry tarts PAT — Dolcezze di Sezze
- Riviera di Ulisse honey and beehive products — Apicoltura Ziniti
- Freshly brewed coffee, bagged coffee, and biscuits — Torrefazione Caffè Traniello
- Ciammelle Elenesi PAT, Baci di Gaeta, and artisanal pasta — Fondazione Don Cosimino Fronzuto
Two must-try specialties
If it is your first time in Gaeta, start with the tiella (a traditional stuffed savory pie): a round of pizza dough worked with extra virgin olive oil, wrapped around a generous filling. The one with octopus and black olives is the most famous, but there are also versions with escarole, salt cod, or onions, changing with the seasons. Alongside it, the olive di Gaeta DOP, grown on terraced fields overlooking the sea: even before being a local product, a piece of the landscape.
The evening-by-evening schedule
The village is part of the celebrations in honour of the Madonna di Porto Salvo, organised by the parish of Santi Cosma e Damiano together with the Cultural Association E.T.S. Gaeta. The schedule is packed and completely free of charge.
Friday, 7 August
- 19:00 — opening of the village at Villa delle Sirene
- 19:30 — switching on of the illuminations
- 21:30 — musical show «Rotta Armonica. Il canto del Mare tra i vicoli di Elena», presented by Associazione Athena
Saturday, 8 August
- 21:30 — Enrico Ruggeri concert, Elettric Tour
Sunday, 9 August
- 17:00 — marching performance by the «Ercole Montano» Brass Band, conducted by Maestro Giovanni Izzo
- 18:00 — procession of the Madonna di Porto Salvo
- 22:00 — concert by the Manhattan Swing Band
- 24:00 — fireworks display by Victor Ferraro Fireworks
Every day, from 19:00 to 24:00
- evening opening of the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Porto Salvo and the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano Vecchia
- live art with masters M. Monaco and M. Magnatti, curated by IS Io Studio Italiano
- dynamic art exhibition by Antonella Magliozzi, “Il mare dei desideri e i Setti mari”, at Via Indipendenza 289
- tourist info point managed by ASP Istituti Riuniti del Lazio and radio promotion with Radio Spazio Blu
While you’re there: the Annunziata is open until midnight
Throughout August, the Monumental Complex of the SS. Annunziata can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-13:00 and 18:00-24:00, with an info point on the church forecourt. It is a great opportunity to see the Cappella d’Oro in the evening, alongside the contemporary art exhibition “Non ancora. Dieci visioni della speranza” by Antonio Poce, held in the complex’s former pharmacy.
Practical information
- Where: Villa delle Sirene, Lungomare Giovanni Caboto (corner of Via Indipendenza), Porto Salvo district, Gaeta
- When: Friday 7, Saturday 8, and Sunday 9 August 2026
- Times: every evening from 19:00 to 24:00
- Admission: free
During festival days, the neighborhood gets very busy and traffic patterns may change, so it is advisable to arrive early. You can find full details of the event on the dedicated page, and read all about the religious festival in the guide to the Festa della Madonna di Porto Salvo.
The third and final stage of “Le Strade del Gusto e dell’Inclusione” will take place in Via Buonomo, from 25 to 27 September 2026.
