In late April each year the town of Ladispoli, on the Lazio seacoast, celebrates the Artichoke.
La Settimana Gastronomica del Carciofo Romanesco is a week long competition among the town’s restaurants to make the winning "piatto dei carciofi romaneschi," the best Roman artichoke dish.
Held each year since the 1950’s, the April festival includes entertainment by some of Italy's most famous singers and dancers, appearances by political figures, and, most interestingly, "sculptures" of towers, fountains, stars and trees, all fashioned from artichokes.
The distance to the Roman markets from the fields of Ladispoli is a short one, so during this season bundles of freshly cut, long-stemmed artichokes arrive daily.
Click on the map and you can find Ladispoli on the coast north of the Fiumicino Airport of Rome.
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