Cicerchia Festival

A forgotten legume, a resilient village

The Cicerchia Festival takes place in Castelvecchio Calvisio, a tiny medieval village perched on the southern slopes of the Gran Sasso, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of inland Abruzzo. The event celebrates the cicerchia (grass pea), a rustic and flavorful legume that represents one of the region's oldest gastronomic traditions: once widely cultivated by farming families, it was the symbol of a simple yet nutritious cuisine capable of feeding mountain populations.

The cicerchia, treasure of Castelvecchio

The cicerchia is a legume halfway between a chickpea and a lentil, with irregular seeds and a grey-brown color. Frugal and resilient, it grows on the stony, well-drained soils of the plateau without the need for irrigation or fertilizers. Sown in April and harvested in August, it has accompanied the life of the village for centuries: in the 1950s, Castelvecchio had dozens of producers before industrial agriculture and depopulation caused its cultivation to almost disappear. The festival was born precisely to rediscover and promote this product of the land, now included among the traditional agri-food products of Abruzzo.

Flavors of the festival in the alleys

The heart of the event is the menu centered on the legume: sagne with cicerchia, served as a hot, creamy dish seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and herbs, sometimes enriched with sausage or bacon. Accompanying the cicerchia are grilled sausages and local oven-baked porchetta, all washed down with a good glass of wine.

• Sagne and first courses based on cicerchia
• Grilled sausages and Abruzzese porchetta
• Live music and folk dancing
• Stories and memories from the village elders

In the medieval village of the Gran Sasso

The festival is held in the historic center, among the alleys and small squares of the ancient town with its ovoid architectural layout, decorated and refurbished for the occasion. Walking through the stone houses during the festival means immersing yourself in the atmosphere of an authentic Abruzzo, where the table becomes an occasion for community. The event, started in 1979 thanks to the initiative of the local Pro Loco, is traditionally held on the second Sunday of August and is organized by the Municipality of Castelvecchio Calvisio together with local associations.