De Rerum Natura in Frattura Vecchia

A ghost village brought back to life

De Rerum Natura in Frattura Vecchia is the summer event that, every July, brings the ruins of Frattura Vecchia—a mountain hamlet in the municipality of Scanno, in the province of L'Aquila—back to life. Perched at over 1,200 meters above sea level, overlooking Lake Scanno and bordering the Sagittario Gorges, this ancient medieval village was almost entirely destroyed by the 1915 Marsica earthquake, which wiped out half the population. The survivors rebuilt their homes further down the valley in Frattura Nuova, leaving the old stone houses to fall into decay. For several years now, the De Rerum Natura APS association, led by Paolo Casalvieri, has chosen these very ruins for a rebirth project: to repopulate the village and restore its memory, social life, and future.

The threshing re-enactment

The heart of the day is the historical re-enactment of horse-drawn wheat threshing, following the traditional agricultural practices of the Abruzzo Apennines. In the morning, amidst harvesting, threshing, and folk songs, young people and performers parade in the traditional costumes of the valley's villages—Bugnara, Villalago, Scanno, Anversa, Cocullo, and Introdacqua—accompanied by trekking along the ancient wheat paths. It is a way to tell the story, through tangible gestures, of a peasant world that risks disappearing.

Tastings, chefs, and biodiversity

A rich food and wine trail unfolds around the re-enactment. The guided tastings, available by reservation, are the result of collaboration between Abruzzo chefs, bakers, and winemakers, offering pairings of local dishes with artisanal wines. The absolute star is the Fagiolo Bianco di Frattura, an indigenous variety included in the Slow Food Ark of Taste, a symbol of mountain agriculture that preserves the land. The event is held under the patronage of Slow Food Abruzzo.

Workshops, music, and families

The afternoon is dedicated to children, with educational and sensory workshops: nature activities, a teaching farm, beekeeping, animal care, and bread-making. There is no shortage of live music, DJ sets, Abruzzo folk songs, and local craft exhibitions, transforming the village into a meeting place for the entire Sagittario Valley community.

A project against depopulation

De Rerum Natura is more than just a festival: it is an annual sustainable development project for the inland areas of Abruzzo. By cultivating beans, restoring stone houses, and involving children and young farmers, the association works year-round to combat depopulation and bring life back to a village otherwise destined for silence. The same organization also hosts the sister event "Bread and Peace" in August.