Bean Festival

A festival dedicated to the beans of the Peligna Valley

The Bean Festival takes place in Pratola Peligna, a town in the province of L'Aquila located in the center of the Peligna Valley, between Sulmona and the slopes of the Majella. The event pays tribute to one of the most representative products of local agricultural tradition: the fagiolo a pane, an indigenous variety still cultivated in the area alongside the 'fagiolo gentile' and the red garlic of Sulmona.

Within the Majella National Park, Pratola Peligna preserves a deep-rooted rural culture, evidenced by the Museum of Rural Civilization, housed in the ancient Mulino dei Celestini. It is in this setting that the bean becomes the star of a simple and authentic village festival, far from the logic of mass tourism and closer to the memories of the local families.

Rustic flavors and traditional recipes

The heart of the festival lies in its bean soups and stews, humble dishes of Peligna cuisine that tell the story of the valley's rural economy. At the food stalls set up in the historic center, visitors can sample traditional recipes passed down through time, often paired with other local specialties and regional wines.

The evening combines gastronomy with the joy of village conviviality: open-air tables, intergenerational gatherings, and the intimate atmosphere of a village coming together over a simple meal. It is the kind of event that allows you to discover the most genuine side of inland Abruzzo, defined by essential flavors and living agricultural traditions.

Pratola Peligna and its agricultural identity

Situated on the left bank of the Sagittario River, along the ancient road connecting L'Aquila to Sulmona, Pratola Peligna boasts a medieval historic center—the so-called "terra dentro"—marked by the Arco d'Angiò and the churches of San Pietro Celestino and the Santissima Trinità. Legume cultivation is an integral part of this identity, and the Bean Festival is its natural popular celebration, organized by the local Pro Loco.