FAI Spring Days — Villa Santa Maria: The Village of Chefs

A weekend in the Village of Chefs

The FAI Spring Days are the national event through which the National Trust for Italy (Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano) opens hundreds of usually inaccessible sites for an entire weekend. In the 2026 edition, the 34th, the Abruzzo program features Villa Santa Maria, a village overlooking the Sangro valley in the province of Chieti. Known throughout Italy as the Village of Chefs, or the 'home of Abruzzo's chefs', the town boasts a culinary tradition rooted in the Middle Ages that has become its true identity and vocation. The openings are curated by the FAI Lanciano Delegation, with volunteers, local experts, and student guides from local schools.

The School of Chefs, a legacy from the past

The symbolic heart of the visit is the School of Chefs, the hospitality institute that has preserved and passed down the ancient art of local cooking since the 20th century. Local tradition recalls that Saint Francis Caracciolo, considered the patron saint of chefs, was born here in the 16th century. For centuries, the village has trained professionals who have brought Abruzzo and Italian cuisine to courts and restaurants worldwide. The FAI tour, titled 'The School of Chefs: a legacy from the past', tells this unique story; the institute is also among the projects funded by PNRR funds for school building safety and redevelopment.

Palazzo Caracciolo and Santa Maria in Basilica

The visit then leads to Palazzo Caracciolo, the 16th-century residence of the Caracciolo princes, which served as the village's first urban core. The FAI tour explores its transformation 'from a historic residence to a place of faith'. The complex, completed in the following century with the chapel dedicated to Saint Francis Caracciolo, also houses the memory of the famous 'Chef's Museum'. At the foot of the village, the sanctuary of Santa Maria in Basilica, with origins dating back to the 8th century, opens its doors with the itinerary 'Santa Maria in Basilica: between waters and memories': it is the site where traces of the first settlement of Villa and archaeological finds related to the history of the Sangro valley were discovered.

The House of Dr. Castracane, a story of courage

Exclusively for FAI members, the opening 'Story of a doctor, at the House of Dr. Castracane' reveals one of the most moving chapters of the village. During World War II, the mayor Roberto Castracane opposed the demands of German troops, protecting Jewish families who had taken refuge in the village and ensuring their safety: a testament to civil courage that the FAI Spring Days bring back to the attention of visitors.

A heritage to be experienced in spring

The initiative, promoted throughout the peninsula, takes place with a voluntary contribution to support FAI, with priority access reserved for members. In Villa Santa Maria, the FAI Spring Days transform a small town in inland Abruzzo, nestled between the mountains of the Middle Sangro and the nearby Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, into a destination for slow discovery: ideal for those who want to combine art, history, memory, and the great gastronomic tradition that has made the Village of Chefs famous.