Dining with the Shepherd

An evening dedicated to the shepherd and the flavors of the Gargano

Dining with the Shepherd is the summer event in Mattinata, in the province of Foggia, which pays homage to one of the most ancient souls of the Gargano: pastoral culture. In the heart of the Apulian promontory, where pastures intertwine with the ancient transhumance trails, the event recounts the world of the shepherd through his flavors, his gestures, and his music. The event is part of the Mattinata èXtraordinaria program, the rich summer schedule promoted by the Municipality of Mattinata.

The flavors of transhumance

The stars of the evening are dairy products and the gastronomy linked to the life of the Gargano shepherd. The Gargano is a land of distinctive cheeses — from caciocavallo podolico to pecorino — born from the milk of the herds that still dot the plateaus around the Foresta Umbra today. Dining with the Shepherd transforms this heritage into a feast of taste: tastings, traditional peasant and pastoral dishes, and the story of a craft handed down from generation to generation.

Gargano folk music

The musical component is an integral part of the evening. The 2026 edition features a concert by Tarantula Garganica, a group that brings the sounds, songs, and rhythms of the Gargano folk tradition back to the stage. The music accompanies the tastings and turns the evening into a moment of collective celebration, blending peasant memory and conviviality.

In collaboration with the Gargano National Park

The event is organized in collaboration with the Gargano National Park, highlighting the deep bond between pastoral culture, the protected landscape of the promontory, and the promotion of its excellence. Mattinata, overlooking the Adriatic and surrounded by centuries-old olive groves and Mediterranean scrub, is the ideal setting to rediscover a heritage that unites nature, tradition, and flavors.

Why attend

• Taste the cheeses and typical products of the Gargano pastoral culture
• Discover the traditions of transhumance and the world of the shepherd
• Listen to the folk music of the Gargano with Tarantula Garganica
• Experience an authentic evening in the heart of the Gargano National Park, in Puglia