Italea
Newsletter

A century of sweetness: Nemi's Strawberry Festival turns 100

Return to Newsletters

13 May 2025

2 minutes

Photo of Nove Colonne - Nemi’s Strawberries (RM), Lazio, Italy

The Strawberry Festival and Flower Exhibition returns on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Nemi, in the heart of the Castelli Romani, ready to welcome visitors from all over the world for a unique and unforgettable experience. The village will be bathed in red and fragrant scents thanks to its famous strawberries and wild strawberries, a local pride and the symbol of the festival.

Nemi, overlooking the lake of the same name and nicknamed the “jewel of the Castelli Romani,” is a small enchanted village just a few kilometers from Rome, known for its timeless charm, breathtaking panorama, and famous wild strawberries. Every first Sunday of June, for 100 years now, the town has celebrated its symbolic fruit with the Strawberry Festival and Flower Exhibition, an event that intertwines nature, history, and gastronomic tradition. Perched on a spur overlooking the lake, Nemi dresses up for the occasion: the streets fill with strawberries and flowers, while the “Fragolare” (Strawberry Girls), young women in traditional costumes, reenact ancient customs. Legend has it that these strawberries were born from the tears of the goddess Venus for the death of Adonis, transformed into small red hearts. In ancient Rome, they were consumed during the festivals in honor of Adonis and, in the following centuries, during the “Triumph of Strawberries” at Campo de’ Fiori. Today, the tradition continues with tastings of desserts, liqueurs, and even artisanal beers made from wild strawberries, fireworks displays, and floral exhibitions decorating every corner of the village. Walking through Nemi, surrounded by intense fragrances and authentic flavors, visitors experience a journey that blends myth, popular culture, and taste in a truly magnificent atmosphere. But strawberries are not the only pride of the territory: Nemi is also known for its wine. In September 2025, “Borgo diVino,” a historic event that has been held here for nearly ten years, will return. The event is dedicated to enhancing the Italian wine heritage, with a selection of wines from all over the Peninsula, and a special focus on Lazio wines. Nemi, with its welcoming spirit and its strong connection to tradition, remains the perfect setting for an event that highlights the bond between territory, culture, and conviviality. To complete your itinerary in the Castelli Romani, a visit to Castel Gandolfo is a must. It is home to the historic Papal Summer Residence, overlooking Lake Albano. Open to the public, it offers the opportunity to admire the papal gardens and the historic interiors. In 2025, the Jubilee year, the visit takes on even deeper significance, allowing you to combine spirituality, culture, and beauty in a unique journey through the symbolic places of the Lazio region.

Other news

  • Flavors of home / The DOP excellence of the Ascolana Olive

    Symbol of a land and a centuries-old tradition, the Oliva Ascolana del Piceno DOP holds within each bite the care of the land, the wisdom of local farmers, and the excellence of Italian cuisine. From its meticulous cultivation to the time-honored recipe of its celebrated stuffed version, this protected delicacy tells a story of identity, […]

    READ MORE
  • Writing the “tratturi” as the Prize for transhumance returns

    The Tratturo Magno International Literary Prize celebrates the legacy of transhumance and ancient walking routes as a source of cultural renewal. Open to prose, poetry, essays and innovative projects, the competition invites participants to rediscover and reimagine the heritage of Italy’s shepherd trails. Some paths are more than a way from point A to B. […]

    READ MORE
  • A journey through Val d’Orcia where silence speaks

    Some places seem to slow down time. Not because nothing happens there, but because everything unfolds with a natural calm—like the turning of the seasons or the quiet step of someone who knows the land they walk on. Val d’Orcia is one of those places. A corner of Tuscany where everything—from the rolling hills to […]

    READ MORE
  • Ferragosto in Tropea where summer turns into ritual

    Every August 15th, the town of Tropea, perched on the cliffs of Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast, celebrates Ferragosto with one of the most evocative rituals of the Italian summer: the sea procession of the Madonna dell’Isola. A centuries-old tradition blending spiritual devotion and natural beauty, the event draws locals and visitors alike to the shoreline and […]

    READ MORE