Appennino Festival (Campli – La Traversa stop)

The Appennino Festival in Campli

The Appennino Festival is a touring event that, for over fifteen years, has supported the rebirth of the Apennine territories of central Italy affected by the 2016 earthquake. The festival travels through dozens of villages across Abruzzo, Marche, Lazio, and Umbria with hikes, concerts, and open-air performances, combining mountain exploration with the promotion of local traditions. One of the stops this year is in Campli, in the province of Teramo, located in one of the most picturesque areas of inland Abruzzo.

A day between nature and flavors

The day in Campli begins with a hike in the Valle degli Scoiattoli, a loop trail starting and ending in the Battaglia hamlet of Campli. The route, classified as a hiking trail (E), covers approximately 8.5 kilometers with an elevation gain of 400 meters and takes about four and a half hours, winding through beech forests and offering panoramic views of the Apennine peaks. Appropriate trekking gear is recommended: hiking boots, sufficient water, a hat, and a rain jacket.

The Fregnacce Festival

Upon returning from the hike, the event moves to the La Traversa hamlet, where the food stands for the Fregnacce Festival are set up, celebrating the signature dish of the Campli tradition. The menu features local specialties such as fregnacce (pasta) with cacio e pepe, tomato sauce, or gourmet toppings, fried dough with ham or peppers and anchovies, fried cheese, sausages, arrosticini, and pallotte cacio e ova, offering a genuine encounter with the most authentic Abruzzo cuisine.

Concert by the Orchestra Popolare del Saltarello

The evening culminates with a concert by the Orchestra Popolare del Saltarello, a group that performs a repertoire of traditional Abruzzo folk songs, ranging from iconic classics to Saltarelle, Spallate, and Ballarelle—dances linked to the ancient transhumance routes. An ensemble of musicians and dancers invites the audience to join in a collective celebration under the Apennine stars.

An inclusive nature festival

Promoted by the Extraordinary Commissioner for the 2016 Earthquake Reconstruction together with BIM Tronto, with artistic direction dedicated to Apennine culture, the festival has a distinctly inclusive and naturalistic focus. Participation in the events is free but requires advance registration via the official website. The Campli stop is part of a broader journey that enhances the heritage, flavors, and communities of the Apennine crater villages.