Tobia: Between Procession, History, and Oil & Wine

Tobia Between Procession and Local History

Tobia combines religious celebration, local history, and a landscape explored through a documented hike across olive groves and chestnut forests. During the Palm Sunday procession, the faithful gather in the piazza in front of house number 111 on Strada Tobia. The procession leads to the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario; the Palm Sunday celebration also includes the blessing of the palm branches.

Religious Celebrations and Community Events

Our Lady of the Rosary is the patron saint of the Tobia community. For the celebration announced for October 5, 2025, the procession was scheduled to be followed by a solemn Mass and a traditional prayer of intercession to Our Lady of the Rosary. A reception was then planned in the parish hall, where local culinary specialties could be brought to share.

Another event is associated with the village piazza: a new edition of “Una sera…tutti in piazza” was scheduled there for July 11, 2026. The event is organized by the Associazione per Tobia and serves as a meeting place for the community and visitors. Tobia therefore places both a religiously oriented occasion and a dedicated piazza event at the center of community life.

Castello di Petrignano and Fontanile

Castello di Petrignano near Tobia is documented as early as the 11th century; an entry from 1056 refers to it as “Castellum de Petrugnano.” Its history also includes the destruction of Castello di Petrignano by Vitale d’Aversa in 1245. These dates give the castle a historical context reaching far back in time.

The water architecture is also one of the area’s distinctive features. The fontanile with its adjoining washhouse in Tobia was built by the Chigi family. A family coat of arms is located between the two water spouts. The ancient Fontanile di Tobia gave Via Fonte di Tobia its name and is considered to be in poor condition.

Hiking Between Tobia and San Martino al Cimino

For active days, the “Tobia San Martino olio e vino” hike is a clearly defined example. The ninth edition took place in 2023 along a natural, food-and-wine, and cultural route from Tobia to San Martino al Cimino and back. It used a section of the Via Francigena that passed through olive groves and chestnut forests. The return to Tobia is explicitly part of the route.

The culinary side of this hike included a tasting at the Frantoio oleario di Tobia in 2023. Bruschetta, freshly produced extra virgin olive oil, beans, sausages, roasted chestnuts, and wine were served. This brings the connection between the route, regional products, and communal tasting to life.

Discover More Destinations

More places for your travel planning: Fonte Vivola, Civitella Cesi, Monterosi, Fastello, Bolsena, Celleno, Ischia Di Castro, and Pescia Romana.

For the higher-level travel overview: Viterbo.