Romanesco Artichoke Festival
One of my favourites of these bigger events is the Romanesco Artichoke Festival near Rome in Ladispoli, held in the second week of April. Originally set up in 1951 to popularise this bulbous (and apparently aphrodisiac) local vegetable, it’s now a huge event that draws the crowds. Visitors come for the food – including the succulent wedges of fried artichoke that are given out for free in the streets, the artichoke-themed menus in the local restaurants and artichoke cooking contests for chefs. All set to a carnival backdrop of music, jollity and an impressive artichoke sculpture competition in the town square.
Wine Festivals