Formaticum & Salum’È: when Italian artisanal excellence meets
Formaticum was created as a market exhibition dedicated to rare Italian cheeses, conceived by Vincenzo Mancino from DOL together with La Pecora Nera Editore.
The event was born with a clear mission: to highlight the work of small-scale farmers, shepherds, cheesemakers, and artisans who safeguard Italy’s extraordinary dairy heritage. Many of the cheeses presented come from tiny rural farms where production is limited and deeply connected to the territory, seasonality, and traditional techniques that have been handed down for generations.
The event is about to come in Testaccio
In 2026 the event evolves into Formaticum & Salum’È, bringing together two parallel traditions that share the same philosophy: rare cheeses and artisanal cured meats. These are two cultures of production that rarely follow industrial logic. They are born in mountain pastures, family farms, and aging cellars where time is not treated as a cost but as an ingredient. The event does not aim to merge these worlds but to let them sit at the same table and declare together where they stand: on the side of those who produce with care, those who select with knowledge, and those who choose to buy consciously.
More than a showcase, Formaticum & Salum’È is a real market.
Visitors enter, taste, choose, and buy directly from the producers themselves. The event welcomes passionate food lovers as well as professional buyers, restaurateurs, specialty shops, and gastronomic operators who are selected and invited to participate. Seminars, tastings, and educational sessions deepen the understanding of traditional production methods, while merit awards recognize those who work every day to defend Italian food craftsmanship and biodiversity.
At its heart, the event celebrates not only the products but the people behind them.
Small artisanal producers are the custodians of landscapes, animal breeds, and traditional techniques that risk disappearing. Especially in a market dominated by industrial scale. By giving them direct access to consumers and professionals, the event promotes a contemporary and conscious food culture. Focusing on the values of authenticity, sustainability, and local identity.
The event behind the lines
Formaticum & Salum’È is the result of the collaboration between two key realities of the Italian gastronomic world. On one side there is La Pecora Nera Editore. The editor is a famous independent publishing house known for its restaurant guides based on genuine anonymous inspections. Unlike many guidebooks based on invitations or partnerships, their reviews are conducted with real anonymity. Allowing them to provide an honest and independent perspective on Italian dining and food culture.
On the other side is Vincenzo Mancino, a renowned taster and food selector. Vincenzo plays a crucial role in promoting the agricultural and artisanal food heritage of the Lazio region. Through decades of work with farmers, shepherds, and small producers, he has built a network that highlights authentic local products and the people who make them.
Location: where to go
The event takes place at La Pelanda – Mattatoio di Roma, a former slaughterhouse complex in the Testaccio district. The slauthterhouse is today one of Rome’s most important cultural venues.
Would you like to attend the event with us? ASK FOR A PERSONALIZED FOODIE GUIDE
