Cesaproba Pizza Festival

The Cesaproba Pizza Festival

The Cesaproba Pizza Festival is one of the most beloved gastronomic events of the summer in the hinterland of L'Aquila. It takes place in Cesaproba, a small village in the municipality of Montereale, in the province of L'Aquila, nestled in the Upper Aterno Valley just a stone's throw from the border with Lazio. For three consecutive evenings, the village sports field turns into a true open-air pizzeria, featuring approximately 1,500 seats, 500 of which are covered.

A tradition born in 1996

The festival was conceived in 1996 by a group of local youths who trained under the master pizza makers of the historic Roman pizzeria San Marco. Since then, the event has grown year after year to become a true symbol of the Cesaproba community's identity. It is organized by the Associazione Culturale Cesaproba '96, which mobilizes dozens of volunteers every summer to set up ovens, long tables, and food stands.

Cesaproba pizza and local flavors

The absolute star is the famous Cesaproba pizza, prepared and wood-fired using traditional methods and topped with strictly local cheeses, mozzarella, and fresh diced cherry tomatoes. Every evening, thousands of pizzas of all types and flavors are pulled from the ovens. The menu is completed by fried snacks, meat skewers, bruschetta, draft beer, local red and white wines, and homemade desserts prepared by the village women: a culinary journey that tells the story of the simple, genuine cuisine of the Abruzzo mountains.

Music, entertainment, and the Cesaproba August

The festival is about more than just food: each evening is accompanied by live music, DJ sets with a cocktail bar, and entertainment for the little ones with inflatables, rides, and other games. The event is part of the Agosto cesaprobano calendar, a rich program of summer events that revolves around the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5th and has hosted concerts by nationally renowned artists over the years.

An event that unites Abruzzo and Lazio

Thanks to its border location, the Cesaproba Pizza Festival attracts thousands of visitors every year, not only from the province of L'Aquila but also from the Rieti area and all of Lazio. It is a precious opportunity to discover an authentic corner of inland Abruzzo, characterized by village hospitality, folk traditions, and the beautiful landscapes of the Upper Aterno Valley.