The Solco Dritto of Valentano is an ancient farming rite held every 14 August, on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption. At dawn, a long furrow is ploughed across the plain in front of the town, with the ploughman aiming to keep it as straight as possible. The tradition is tied to farming culture and devotion to the Assumption of Mary; even today it keeps a character very different from tourism-driven festivals, since the farming act itself remains at the centre of the event.
Ploughing the furrow
The work begins in the early morning hours. The line must cross the countryside while keeping a precise course, watched by the town and by the surrounding viewpoints: the result is a visible trace across the landscape, a symbol of the ploughman's skill and of the community's bond with the land.
A farming rite
The Solco Dritto belongs to a rural world in which the seasons, labour and religious feasts were closely intertwined. Its survival makes Valentano especially interesting for anyone seeking traditions that haven't been standardised for tourism.
Valentano and Alta Tuscia
The day can be rounded off with the old town, the Museum of Tuscia Prehistory in the Rocca Farnese, and the nearby Lago di Mezzano.
