Cottora Day

The Cottora Day in Barisciano

Cottora Day is the gastronomic event that brings the Rione Paganìa of Barisciano to life every year on January 5th. Located in a village on the Navelli Plateau in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo, the event is organized by the Pro Loco of Barisciano. It transforms the district's streets into a large, convivial banquet, warmed by steaming cauldrons and the community's spirit on the eve of Epiphany.

The 'cottora', a traditional dish

The star of the festival is the cottora, a humble dish rich in history, linked to the pastoral civilization and transhumance that traversed these mountains for centuries. Its name recalls the callara, the large copper cauldron hung from a fireplace chain where meat was slow-cooked with herbs and spices. This symbol of Abruzzo's peasant cuisine brings everyone together for an evening dedicated to the authentic flavors of the region.

What to eat

The Cottora Day menu features traditional local specialties served directly from the large pots:

• Cottora, the dish that gives the festival its name;
• Bruschetta with assogna (lard);
• Meat sausages and liver sausages;
• Sagne e patate, a classic first course of the L'Aquila peasant tradition;
• Wine, beer, and spirits to warm up the winter evening.

Everything is shared in the festive atmosphere of the district, amidst music, conversation, and the storytelling of folk traditions that this festival helps pass down from generation to generation.

An event in the heart of Abruzzo

Cottora Day is much more than a simple tasting: it is a moment of gathering for the entire Barisciano community and for visitors who choose to discover inland Abruzzo in winter. Participation requires a ticket and reservation due to limited seating, and over the years, the event has consistently sold out, establishing itself as one of the most cherished gastronomic appointments in the L'Aquila winter calendar. Attendees take home not just the taste of an ancient dish, but the memory of an evening that captures the genuine and hospitable soul of this corner of Abruzzo.