Festival of Typical Arbëreshë Cuisine Dishes

A Cuisine That Tells a Story

Ginestra is one of the five Arbëreshë municipalities in Basilicata, founded in the 15th century by Albanian refugees who arrived in the Vulture region. Its identity is preserved in its language, rituals, and especially its cuisine, made up of ancient dishes that families have passed down for generations. The Festival of Typical Arbëreshë Cuisine Dishes, the village's summer event in the province of Potenza, is dedicated to this gastronomic heritage.

August Between Faith and Flavors

The festival is traditionally held in the first week of August, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Constantinople, the town's patron saint, venerated in the sanctuary of the same name. It's a time when the village fills with residents and emigrants who have returned for the summer, and when specialties of Albanian tradition—handmade pasta, wild herbs, peasant dishes—are offered for tasting along the streets of the historic center, accompanied by music and festive moments.

Discovering Arbëreshë Ginestra

Participating in the festival is a way to immerse yourself in a living and little-known culture: the traditional costumes, the Arbëreshë language, the Mother Church of San Nicola, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, and the landscapes of the Vulture, among vineyards and extinct volcanoes. An authentic experience in the heart of a village that makes its diversity a richness to be shared.