Cynara — Cupello Artichoke Festival

Cynara, the Mazzaferrata Artichoke festival in Cupello

In the heart of the Vastese area, in the province of Chieti, the small Abruzzese town of Cupello dedicates a grand festival every spring to its most precious treasure: the Mazzaferrata Artichoke. For a few years now, this historic event has been known as Cynara — Artichoke Festival, taking its name from the artichoke's botanical classification (Cynara scolymus) and marking a qualitative leap in its organization and culinary offerings.

The Mazzaferrata Artichoke, a local treasure

The Cupello artichoke is known as Mazzaferrata due to its rounded, spineless shape—reminiscent of the ancient medieval weapon of the same name—and the characteristic hole at its tip. It is a sweet, tender, and fragrant vegetable grown in the countryside surrounding the town, which over the years has become a true identity symbol for the Cupello community and southern Abruzzo. Its promotion is also driven by local entities such as the Cooperativa San Rocco, a key player in showcasing the product.

Colorful menus and signature cuisine

The heart of the festival lies in the food stalls set up in Piazza Benicarlò, open for both lunch and dinner. The culinary experience is organized into thematic, color-coded menus, each designed to highlight a different facet of the Mazzaferrata Artichoke: the orange, yellow, pink, and blue menus (featuring the local pizza cupellese), and the green vegetarian menu with a gluten-free option. There is also a menu dedicated to children, the 'Carciofino', complete with a surprise. In recent editions, the kitchen brigade has been led by local Cupello chef Gianluca Bellano.

Tradition, culture, and new experiences

Cynara is about more than just food: the program features live cooking demonstrations, workshops, conferences, photography exhibitions, live music, and institutional events. Among the highlights of recent editions is the Artichoke Tour, an e-bike route through the fields and the Cooperativa San Rocco, featuring tastings along the way and a final lunch at the stalls, perfectly blending cycle tourism with the discovery of local produce.

A landmark event for the region

With free admission, Cynara has become one of the most popular food and wine events in the province of Chieti during the spring, attracting thousands of visitors to Cupello. The festival combines the promotion of Abruzzese agricultural excellence with the pleasure of conviviality, offering residents and tourists the chance to discover an authentic village and its deep-rooted farming traditions.