Festival del Carciofo Romanesco (Festival of the Roman Artichoke)

Also called 'cimarolo' or 'mammola', the Roman artichoke has always been considered the king of the kitchen garden and the pride of Capitoline cuisine.

Produced mostly along the Latium coastline, it is a plant native to eastern Mediterranean countries, whose origins are shrouded in mystery. Many claim that it was the Egyptians who started growing it, others say the Etruscans, as the wall depictions of artichoke leaves in some tombs in the Tarquinia Etruscan necropolis would seem to testify. The fact remains that hints of the artichoke can already be found in Greek and Roman history.

But it was only after the 1940s and 1950s that it began to spread on Roman tables and that festivals such as the one in Ladispoli, which has celebrated the artichoke for over half a century, were dedicated to it.

An extremely versatile vegetable, a staple of the Mediterranean diet with undisputed health-promoting and depurative properties , it can be eaten raw, sliced and seasoned with oil and lemon, or 'alla romana', cooked over low heat and seasoned with breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, pepper and plenty of oil.

Its destiny, however, is inextricably linked to Jewish-Roman cuisine and the Jewish community in Rome, which has made it the star of many traditional recipes and the essential ingredient of a gastronomy with a history stretching back thousands of years.

Handed down from generation to generation over the centuries, the tasty recipes of Jewish-Romanesque cuisine have a predominantly family character. Over time, the resulting tradition has been adapted to the local culture and products, creating unique dishes with an unmistakable flavour.

It is no coincidence that one of the specialities born out of this fortunate fusion is the artichoke 'alla giudìa', twice fried in boiling oil and with beautiful crispy leaves. A true delicacy that over time has confirmed and strengthened an inseparable bond between Rome, the Jewish community and this tasty Made in Italy excellence, the undisputed star of the Festival del Carciofo romanesco (Roman Artichoke Festival), now in its third edition.

For four days, on the tables of more than 20 restaurants in the Jewish quarter and the historic rioni (neighbourhoods) of Trevi and Ripa, and in Campo de' Fiori, artichoke based courses will be served following traditional recipes or the chefs' inventiveness.

Each restaurant offers ad hoc menus at the standard price of € 35.00 and proposes tastings at the entrance to the Jewish quarter. What makes the event even more characteristic is the surrounding environment that evokes the most genuine Roman spirit, with stornelli by Alvaro Amici's sons and performances by street artists.