Cicatelli Festival

A unique village in Puglia

With just over a hundred residents, Celle di San Vito is the least populated municipality in Puglia. Clinging to the Daunian Mountains, in the heart of the Capitanata region in the province of Foggia, this tiny village guards a rare treasure alongside neighboring Faeto: it is the only Franco-Provençal linguistic island in Southern Italy, recognized by the Italian state as a historical minority since 1999. In the alleys of the historic center, street signs still bear names in the local Cellese language, a legacy of the Angevin families who settled here around the 14th century, during the time of Charles I of Anjou.

The cicatello, a traditional pasta

The heart of the festival is the cicatello, a short pasta prepared strictly by hand using durum wheat semolina and water. Its slightly elongated and hollow shape is achieved by applying delicate finger pressure to the dough, a technique passed down through generations. On the table, the cicatelli are served with a simple yet intense fresh tomato, garlic, and chili sauce, accompanied by other flavors from the Franco-Provençal mountain cuisine.

A culinary journey through the alleys

The event transforms the entire village into a grand culinary trail: the streets and small squares of the historic center fill with stalls where visitors can taste cicatelli and local specialties. Walking through the stone alleys, you will encounter long tables, the aromas of home cooking, and the typical hospitality of the small communities of the Daunian Mountains, where every edition serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

Music, folklore, and Franco-Provençal identity

The tastings are complemented by folk and traditional music performances that enliven the evenings. The festival traditionally marks the grand finale of a broader summer program in Celle di San Vito, which includes patronal feasts, a historical pageant dedicated to the town's Angevin origins, and cultural events centered on the Franco-Provençal language and heritage. It is a way to unite food, memory, and community.

A journey into the Daunian Mountains

Attending the Cicatelli Festival means discovering one of the most authentic and lesser-known corners of Puglia, far from the typical seaside tourist routes. Amidst forests, fresh mountain air, and a language not spoken anywhere else in Southern Italy, Celle di San Vito offers an experience that weaves together gastronomy, nature, and cultural heritage.