Festival of Beato Roberto da Salle and the Palmentieri

The patronal feast of Salle

In the heart of the Majella National Park, perched along the Orta Valley, the town of Salle (in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo) dedicates its most important days in mid-July to its patron saint, Beato Roberto da Salle. Born in the village in 1273, Roberto embraced monastic life at a very young age within the Celestine school of Pietro da Morrone, becoming his most faithful disciple. His figure remains central to the community's spiritual identity today. His relics are kept in the Church of San Salvatore, the religious heart of the village.

The Palmentieri: a ritual from the past

The most characteristic moment of the festivities is the Palmentieri Festival, held on the Sunday preceding July 18th. In the early afternoon, the Festival Committee walks through the village streets, preceded by a group of drummers and triangle players. As they pass, the locals emerge from their homes with their "palmentieri"—gifts adorned with oak branches and flowers—and join the procession behind the local girls dressed in traditional Abruzzo costumes. Once in the square, the collected gifts are auctioned, and the proceeds are donated to the sanctuary of Beato Roberto: a collective gesture that unites faith, generosity, and a sense of belonging.

The patron saint's day

July 18th is the solemn day of the feast. In the morning, Holy Mass is celebrated, followed by a procession through the village streets with the statue of Beato Roberto carried on the shoulders of the faithful. In the afternoon, the village comes alive with stalls, rides, and stands, while the evening is traditionally dedicated to a grand brass band concert and a midnight fireworks display, concluding the most anticipated day of the year.

Salle, the village of harmonic strings

The festival is also an opportunity to discover a village with a unique history. Marked by the 1915 landslide and the 1933 earthquake that destroyed the ancient Salle Vecchia, the community rebuilt further downstream, creating Salle Nuova. The village is famous for the ancient art of lutherie: for centuries, harmonic strings for guitars, violins, violas, and cellos were produced here and exported throughout Europe, earning Salle the nickname "village of harmonic strings." Above the village, one can find the remains of the medieval castle and the Civic Museum.

An event of Abruzzo tradition

The Festival of Beato Roberto and the Palmentieri represents one of the most authentic folk events in the Pescara mountains. For those visiting inland Abruzzo in summer, it is the ideal opportunity to experience a popular tradition that has remained intact over time, immersed in the landscape of the Majella.