Concolando - Festa della Concola Cuprense De.Co.

Concolando, the festival of the concola cuprense

Every year, at the end of June, Cupra Marittima dedicates an entire weekend to its most distinctive maritime specialty: the concola cuprense. This is a small sea clam that elsewhere is called a vongola or lupino di mare, but which in this municipality in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, has earned its own name and, above all, the Municipal Designation (De.Co.), a recognition that protects its uniqueness and its link to the territory. Hence the name of the event, Concolando, which makes the concola the absolute protagonist of three days of taste and culture.

Between gastronomy, sea, and sustainability

Concolando is not just a food festival (sagra): it is a project that intertwines gastronomic culture, the promotion of sustainable fishing, and the enhancement of the territory. In previous editions, the event has been supported by European funds dedicated to the fish supply chain, confirming the Municipality's commitment to a fishing model that respects the Adriatic Sea and its resources. However, the heart of the festival remains the table, with the concola served according to traditional Cupra Marittima recipes.

The event program

In recent editions, the program has been spread over three days and across various locations in the town. Among the established events:

• Cooking workshops and show cooking with local chefs, dedicated to concola-based recipes;
• Tastings of spaghetti with concole cuprensi at Parco San Benedetto Martire, on the northern seafront, accompanied by local wines;
• Live music in the main square and on the seafront, with bands playing hits from the seventies onwards;
• Talk shows and meetings in symbolic locations such as Villa Cellini, with guests from the culinary and educational worlds;
• Charity initiatives, with part of the proceeds donated to local associations.

Waiting for Concolando

The festival is preceded by Aspettando Concolando (Waiting for Concolando), a series of weekly events held in the main restaurants of Cupra Marittima, where you can taste dishes based on concola cuprense in the weeks leading up to the event. A way to extend the celebration and involve the entire local restaurant community.

An excuse to discover Cupra Marittima

Attending Concolando is also an opportunity to visit Cupra Marittima, a town on the Riviera delle Palme that combines its seaside vocation with a rich historical heritage, from the Civita Archaeological Natural Park to the ancient village of Marano. Between the sea, good food, and tradition, the concola becomes the common thread of a weekend that tells the most authentic identity of this corner of the Marche region.