Culture and Tradition between the Banks of the Tronto

A cultural bridge between Abruzzo and Marche

The Culture and Tradition between the Banks of the Tronto festival takes place every summer in Martinsicuro, a town in the province of Teramo located right at the mouth of the Tronto river, the natural boundary between Abruzzo and Marche. The initiative was born from a clear vision: to portray the Tronto not as a dividing line, but as a bridge between two cultures that have influenced and enriched each other over the centuries, sharing history, art, rural traditions, and cuisine.

Three days of art, history, and flavors

The event spans three days, blending cultural insights with convivial gatherings. The heart of the events is the Torre Carlo V, the ancient Customs House and iconic monument of Martinsicuro, though the program extends beyond municipal borders with guided tours in the art cities of the Piceno-Teramo area.

• Renaissance guided tours in Giulianova, Teramo, and Ascoli Piceno, discovering the artistic and architectural masterpieces of the Renaissance along both banks of the river;
• Conferences and dialogues with art historians and local scholars, dedicated to the historical, archaeological, and landscape heritage;
• Tastings and social dinners focused on local products and rural gastronomic traditions, in collaboration with Slow Food chapters.

The value of local heritage

The festival is sponsored by the Abruzzo Region, the Provinces of Teramo and Ascoli Piceno, and the municipalities involved in the tours. It features the participation of the Slow Food Terre Teramane and Slow Food Piceno chapters, as well as local cultural associations. Recent editions have focused extensively on rural traditions, such as the ancient peasant ritual of 'maialatura' (pork butchery), and the rediscovery of the area's Renaissance art.

Martinsicuro, gateway to Abruzzo on the Adriatic

Hosting this festival in Martinsicuro is no coincidence: the town is the last stretch of Abruzzo before reaching Marche, a frontier place where two regional identities meet. The event invites residents and visitors to rediscover the history and traditions of the territory through authentic, participatory experiences, highlighting a coastal and river landscape rich in memory.