Bastioni e Bastimenti

Bastioni e Bastimenti: taste and memory in the heart of Celano

Bastioni e Bastimenti is one of the most anticipated summer evenings on the calendar in Celano, a village in the Marsica region of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo. Every August, the event lights up the town's historic center, transforming streets, alleys, and squares at the foot of Castello Piccolomini into a long path filled with authentic flavors, shows, and suspended atmospheres.

The theme of Marsican emigration

The very name of the event encapsulates its soul: the bastioni (bastions) of the fortified village and the bastimenti (ships) that, between the 19th and 20th centuries, carried thousands of people from Celano and the Marsica region to seek their fortune overseas. Since its first editions, the event has aimed to recount the epic of emigration, a profound chapter of local history: the journey of Celano's workers across the five continents has been staged through themed stops, theatrical performances, films, and installations distributed throughout the iconic spots of the historic center.

A journey of flavors and entertainment

The evening's format combines food, wine, and widespread entertainment. Along the narrow streets, you will find selected wineries, stalls featuring typical products of the Marsica region, artisanal pastry shops, and cocktail bars, creating a culinary itinerary that guides visitors from one square to the next. The tastings are accompanied by live music, artistic performances, aerial dance with suspended performers, and light shows that wrap the ancient buildings in a magical atmosphere.

• Food and Wine: Abruzzo wineries, traditional dishes, and specialties of the Marsica tradition
• Entertainment: live music, theatrical and artistic performances along the route
• Atmosphere: aerial dance, light installations, and scenery in the medieval village
• Memory: the story of emigration from Celano as the common thread of the evening

History and organization

The event, now in its many editions, took shape in the mid-2000s and has grown year by year: by 2010, it had doubled to two consecutive nights, and by 2014, it reached its ninth edition. Over time, it has been enriched with side initiatives, such as painting workshops, sports contests, and awards dedicated to the city's memories. In more recent years, Bastioni e Bastimenti has become part of the Federician Year program, highlighting the bond between Celano, its medieval history, and the figure of Frederick II. The event is organized by the Bastioni e Bastimenti Association together with the Municipality of Celano, with the involvement of local associations and cultural entities.

Celano and the Marsica region

Dominated by the imposing Castello Piccolomini and overlooking the Fucino plain, Celano is one of the most characteristic villages in the Marsica region. Participating in Bastioni e Bastimenti means discovering its historic center in a different light, amidst memory, good food, and Abruzzo hospitality, during one of the liveliest evenings of the Marsican summer.