Longone Sabino: Nature, History and Festival Culture

Longone Sabino is located in a valley of the Alta Sabina known for its natural landscape and is surrounded by forests. The municipality's settlements lie between the Velino and Turano rivers, opposite Monte Terminillo. Longone Sabino is also situated at the foot of the Riserva Naturale del Monte Navegna e Monte Cervia. Here, a landscape-shaped setting combines with medieval traces, churches and festivals.

Traces of History and Remembrance

Longone Sabino has medieval origins and still preserves traces of walls and buildings from the feudal period. The hamlet of San Silvestro in the municipality retains the characteristics of a medieval village. The Chiesa di Sant'Antonio di Padova was built in the 17th century. At the Chiesa di Sant'Anna, a spring was considered beneficial; for centuries, women in labor came here to drink its water. The Monumento Attilio Verdirosi commemorates the war volunteer born in Longone Sabino on July 1, 1873, who received the Gold Medal for Military Valour. San Silvestro retains this medieval character as a hamlet; the Chiesa di Sant'Antonio di Padova, on the other hand, was built in the 17th century and represents a later period.

Festivals on Fixed Dates

The Sagra della braciola di pecora takes place every year on August 16 and has been organized since 1979. During the festival, around 600 kg of lamb chops and approximately 120 kg of pasta with sheep-meat sauce are cooked on special grates over wood embers in the village square. Longone Sabino celebrates the patronal feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian on September 26 and 27. It includes a procession illuminated exclusively by candlelight after nightfall. The Sagra combines its fixed August date with cooking over wood embers in the village square; the patronal feast follows in September with a procession after nightfall.

Candlelight and Foconi

During the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, large bundles of dried broom are set alight on a nearby hill. These bundles are called Foconi. The combination of the procession, candlelight and the Foconi gives the September festival a clearly recognizable form. The Foconi are just as much a part of the patronal feast as the procession.

Between Natural Landscapes and Regional Specialties

The Strada del Tartufo e della Castagna della Valle del Turano passes through Longone Sabino. The route adds a regional connection to the landscape themes, linking them to truffles and chestnuts in the Valle del Turano. U Cinemittu is also part of the more recent references: it opened in Longone Sabino in 2024. Thus, in Longone Sabino, landscapes, older architectural and commemorative traces, festival traditions and the newly dated U Cinemittu come together. U Cinemittu is one of the more recent points of reference in Longone Sabino, while the churches and medieval traces date back further.

More places for your travel planning: Toffia, Montenero Sabino, Varco Sabino, Labro, San Polo, Salisano, Antrodoco, Poggio Moiano

To the overarching travel overview: Rieti.