BellaVita Festival – Travel Culture Award
The travel culture festival in the wine-growing village of Controguerra
About BellaVita Festival
A festival dedicated to travel culture
The BellaVita Festival – Travel Culture Award is a cultural event held in Controguerra, a wine-growing village in the Val Vibrata valley in the province of Teramo, northern Abruzzo. The initiative was born with the aim of promoting stories, experiences, and languages linked to movement and the discovery of territories, celebrating travel as an experience of growth, ethics, and beauty.
From solidarity to travel storytelling
The festival has its roots in 2011, when it began as a cultural and charitable project supporting home-based cancer care. Over the years, the event has transformed into a true laboratory for storytelling and regional promotion, capable of intertwining art, landscape, solidarity, and local production. The Travel Culture Award has become its main expression, a recognition that celebrates those who have successfully portrayed travel as a transformative, identity-forming, and human experience.
The Golden Decanter
The symbolic heart of the event is the Golden Decanter, crafted by master ceramist Antonio Simonetti of Castelli, a village famous for its Abruzzese ceramics. The award is presented to individuals who, through their personal and professional journeys, have contributed to enriching our country's cultural heritage. Past winners include prominent figures from Italian journalism, culture, and sport.
Controguerra and its wines
The Municipality of Controguerra is renowned for its winemaking tradition, evidenced by the Controguerra DOC designation and the vineyards of the Teramo Hills that surround the village. It is no coincidence that some editions of the festival have been held at the Municipal Enoteca, and the event involves the local Winemakers' Association, thus uniting travel culture with the food and wine identity of the Abruzzo region.
An intimate and high-quality event
Far from mass-market festivals, the BellaVita Festival offers intimate, high-profile meetings with guests from the worlds of journalism, philosophy, art, and sport. It is promoted by Giampiero Porzio and Fabrizio Di Bonaventura, with the support of the Municipality of Controguerra and local associations, including the Avis Val Vibrata Running Group.
BellaVita Festival — edition 2026
Seventh edition: sport as a journey
The 2026 edition of the BellaVita Festival, the seventh, was held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, starting at 5:30 PM in the Municipal Council Chamber of Controguerra. The central theme was the relationship between storytelling, sport, and travel, reflecting on sport as an experience that unites places and cultures, expanding the concept of travel beyond tourism.
The festival hosted the meeting "Beyond the Finish Line – A Journey into the Places and Stories of Sport", featuring sports journalist Franco Bragagna, the historic voice of athletics on RAI. Bragagna engaged in a dialogue with Dino Mastrocola, Rector Emeritus of the University of Teramo, and journalists Luca Zarroli and Lino Nazionale.
At the end of the meeting, the ceremony for the Golden Decanter took place, the symbolic award of the event created by master ceramist Antonio Simonetti of Castelli, presented to Franco Bragagna for his contribution to the culture of sports storytelling.
Programme BellaVita Festival 2026
- 5:30 PM – Meeting "Beyond the Finish Line – A Journey into the Places and Stories of Sport" with Franco Bragagna, in dialogue with Dino Mastrocola (Rector Emeritus of the University of Teramo), Luca Zarroli, and Lino Nazionale
- Following – Ceremony for the presentation of the Golden Decanter to Franco Bragagna
Highlights BellaVita Festival 2026
- Golden Decanter awarded to RAI sports journalist Franco Bragagna
- "Beyond the Finish Line" meeting on sport as a journey
- Dialogue with Dino Mastrocola, Luca Zarroli, and Lino Nazionale
Prices BellaVita Festival 2026
Practical information — BellaVita Festival
How to get there
Controguerra is located in the Val Vibrata, in the province of Teramo, near the border with the Marche region. By car: take the Val Vibrata exit on the A14 motorway, then follow signs for Controguerra. The nearest train station is Alba Adriatica-Nereto-Controguerra on the Adriatic line.
Admission
The festival meetings are held in the Municipal Council Chamber and are free of charge. It is recommended to check the program and times on the official channels of the Municipality of Controguerra.
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Where does it take place — BellaVita Festival
Sala Consiliare del Comune di Controguerra