🌊 The Treasures of Lake Bolsena: Flavors, Traditions, and Typical Products

Surrounded by picturesque villages and fertile lands, Lake Bolsena is far more than just a natural wonder: it is a cradle of ancient, authentic flavors, deeply tied to the region’s identity.Its clear waters and surrounding hills offer a rich basket of typical products that tell stories of fishing, agriculture, and popular traditions, renewed every year through local shops, markets, and festivals.

🐟 The Fish of the Lake: Coregone, Eel, and Lattarino

Strolling through the fish markets of Bolsena, Gradoli, Grotte di Castro, or San Lorenzo Nuovo, it’s common to find coregone, the prince of the lake, often served grilled or smoked.Then comes eel, prized for its rich and flavorful meat, and lattarino, ideal when fried or cooked into frittatas.

Here, lake fish is not just food — it’s ritual: every village preserves recipes passed down for generations, guarded within family kitchens and local taverns.

🥔 Legumes and Agricultural Products of Upper Viterbo

The fields around the lake safeguard true biodiversity treasures:

• The Potato of Upper Viterbo, grown in all the area's towns, is appreciated for its texture and delicate flavor

• The renowned Purgatory Bean of Gradoli, with its velvety taste and thin skin, also celebrated in a can’t-miss festival

• The Lentil of Onano, small and protein-rich, and the rare Straight Furrow Chickpea from Valentano, grown following ancient farming traditions

• The Spelt of Pungolo from Acquapendente, a prized Etruscan grain, ideal for rustic soups and salads

🧄 The Red Garlic of Proceno

Intense, aromatic, and unmistakable, Red Garlic from Proceno is sold in shops and markets of the village. It is often braided decoratively and used both in cooking and as a natural remedy, according to popular belief.

🍷 Hillside and Lakeside Wines

These lands produce extraordinary wines:

• Aleatico di Gradoli DOC, a sweet, aromatic red perfect for meditation

• Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone, a light, fresh white that pairs beautifully with lake fish

• Plus a wide range of mineral-rich whites and intense reds, often IGT, made by local artisan wineries

🍒 Cherries of Tuscia: The Sweet Finale

To end on a sweet note: the Cherries of Celleno, celebrated every June with a dedicated festival, and the cherries from the Viterbo countryside, such as Sant’Angelo and Roccalvecce, grown by small family farms.

🎉 Festivals: When Food Becomes a Celebration

Every product has its festival:

• Potato Festival (San Lorenzo Nuovo)

• Purgatory Bean Festival (Gradoli)

• Lentil Festival (Onano)

• Cherry Festival (Celleno)

These events blend flavor, music, and farming culture, offering the chance to connect with the true spirit of Tuscia.

🍽️ Conclusion

Bolsena and the villages along its shores offer not only stunning views but one of the most authentic food cultures in Italy.A journey through these flavors is a way to taste the history, the land, and the traditions of Tuscia—one bite at a time.