Castellana Fried Pizza Festival

The Castellana Fried Pizza Festival

The Castellana Fried Pizza Festival is one of the most beloved popular summer celebrations in Pianella, a hillside town in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. The event takes place in the small village of Castellana, the heart of a community that gathers every year around a simple and deeply loved dish: fried pizza, prepared on the spot and served piping hot at the food stalls set up in Piazza Beata Vergine Maria Lauretana.

A specialty of Abruzzo's popular cuisine

Fried pizza is a symbol of Abruzzo's rural tradition: a soft, leavened dough that is deep-fried, bringing entire generations together around village festival stoves. In Castellana, the recipe is passed down and offered in various versions, always accompanied by local wines from the Pescara area, such as Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Cerasuolo. It is a celebration where food becomes an occasion for meeting and conviviality.

Music and square atmosphere

The evening is not just about gastronomy. The stalls open in the early evening, and the square comes alive with live music: over the years, local orchestras and bands, such as the Orchestra Pentagramma Live and the Piero Nocelli Band, have performed, with a repertoire ranging from ballroom dancing to Latin American rhythms and the greatest hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. An opportunity to dance and be together under the summer stars.

A community-organized festival

The event is promoted by the Associazione Castellana 8 settembre APS, a local volunteer organization also linked to the patronal festivities of the Beata Vergine Maria Lauretana. The festival is sponsored by the Municipality of Pianella and represents one of the highlights that enliven the summer in the villages of the municipal territory.

In Pianella, among the Pescara hills

Pianella is a village of ancient origins nestled on the hills between Pescara and Chieti, known for its extra virgin olive oil production and its historic center. Participating in the Castellana Fried Pizza Festival means discovering the authentic Abruzzo of village festivals, where hospitality and genuine flavors remain the protagonists. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced: it is recommended to check the organizing association's social media channels for updates.