Ascension Fair
Faith, tradition, and flavors at the Abbey of Propezzano in Morro d'Oro
About Ascension Fair
The Ascension Fair in Morro d'Oro
The Ascension Fair is one of the most deeply rooted events in the municipality of Morro d'Oro, in the province of Teramo, in the heart of Abruzzo. Linked to the movable liturgical solemnity of the Ascension, the fair takes place in the hamlet of Propezzano, home to the monumental Abbey of Santa Maria di Propezzano, a jewel of the so-called Teramo Valley of the Abbeys. For three days, the countryside around the monastery fills with pilgrims, curious visitors, and families, in a blend of devotion, farming tradition, and popular celebration.
Between faith and the agricultural world
The spiritual heart of the fair is the opening of the Holy Door of the Abbey, a solemn rite that recalls the long pilgrimage tradition of the Marian sanctuary. According to legend, the Abbey of Propezzano was founded after the apparition of the Madonna to three bishops returning from the Holy Land on May 10, 715: hence the place's deep bond with arboreal spirituality and the surrounding nature. The most characteristic and heartfelt moment remains the blessing of the tractors, a tribute to the unbreakable bond between faith and the agricultural world that has always characterized these lands.
Flavors, culture, and tours
Alongside the religious moments, the fair offers food and wine stalls with typical local products, from traditional Abruzzo farming specialties to wines and local handicrafts. During the event, guided tours of the cloister of the Abbey and the evocative Medicinal Garden are organized, where aromatic and medicinal plants tell the ancient story of the relationship between the monastery and the cultivation of herbs.
Music and evenings beneath the Abbey
The evenings are enlivened by concerts and live performances, with bands, comedians, and folk music transforming the Abbey's churchyard into an open-air stage. The event, which is free and open to all, is organized by the Pro Loco of Morro d'Oro together with the Parish, the Abbey, the municipal administration, and local associations, with the support of volunteers, the 'Nonni Vigili' (grandparent crossing guards), and the Civil Protection.
A heritage of the Valley of the Abbeys
Visiting the Ascension Fair means discovering one of the most fascinating corners of the Teramo area, where historical-religious heritage dialogues with farming culture. The Propezzano abbey complex, with its church, cloister, and Holy Door, is part of the network of paths in the Valley of the Abbeys, a destination for excursions and pilgrimages that culminate every year in the Ascension feast.
Ascension Fair — edition 2026
Ascension Fair 2026
From May 15 to 17, 2026, the Abbey of Propezzano in Morro d'Oro (TE) hosted three days of celebration blending spirituality, farming tradition, and conviviality, with an edition coordinated by the local Pro Loco.
On Friday, May 15, the fair opened at 6:00 PM with food and wine stalls, followed at 9:00 PM by live music from the Exentia Live Band. On Saturday, May 16, the religious walk towards the Abbey started at 3:15 PM from Piazza Duca, followed at 5:00 PM by the opening of the Holy Door, at 6:30 PM by a conference on the holy doors of Morro d'Oro and L'Aquila, and at 8:30 PM by a show with the Masters Band and 'Nduccio. On Sunday, May 17, after the 8:00 AM gathering in Piazza Duca, Holy Mass was celebrated at 10:30 AM, followed by the blessing of the tractors in Propezzano; in the evening, at 9:00 PM, the grand musical finale with the Sound Better Band and European organetto champion Nicolò Di Mattia.
Programme Ascension Fair 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Opening of food and wine stalls
- 9:00 PM — Live music with Exentia Live Band
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM — Guided tours of the Abbey cloister (departures every 30 minutes) and the Medicinal Garden
- 3:15 PM — Religious walk towards the Abbey (meeting point in Piazza Duca)
- 5:00 PM — Opening of the Holy Door
- 6:30 PM — Conference on the holy doors of Morro d'Oro and L'Aquila
- 8:30 PM — Show with Masters Band and 'Nduccio
Sunday, May 17, 2026
- 8:00 AM — Gathering in Piazza Duca for the blessing of the tractors
- 10:30 AM — Holy Mass
- 12:00 PM — Blessing of the tractors in Propezzano (Father Pasquale)
- 9:00 PM — Musical show with Sound Better Band and Nicolò Di Mattia, European organetto champion
Highlights Ascension Fair 2026
- Solemn opening of the Holy Door of the Abbey of Propezzano
- Blessing of the tractors, a rite that unites faith and the agricultural world
- Conference on the holy doors of Morro d'Oro and L'Aquila
- Free guided tours of the cloister and the Medicinal Garden
- Concerts with Exentia Live Band, Masters Band, 'Nduccio, Sound Better Band, and organetto player Nicolò Di Mattia
Prices Ascension Fair 2026
Practical information — Ascension Fair
Where it takes place
The Ascension Fair is held at the Abbey of Santa Maria di Propezzano, in the Propezzano hamlet of Morro d'Oro (TE), in Abruzzo. The procession starts from the town of Morro d'Oro, from Piazza Duca.
How to get there
Morro d'Oro can be reached from the Roseto degli Abruzzi motorway exit (A14), a few kilometers from the Teramo coast. From there, continue inland following the signs for Propezzano.
Admission and information
Access to the fair and guided tours of the cloister and the Medicinal Garden is free. For up-to-date information on dates and the program, it is recommended to check the channels of the Pro Loco of Morro d'Oro and the Municipality.
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Where does it take place — Ascension Fair
Abbazia di Santa Maria di Propezzano