Fieruccia (Madonna Fair)

La Fieruccia: The rural soul of Loreto Aprutino

La Fieruccia, also known as the Madonna Fair, is one of the most iconic events in Loreto Aprutino, a medieval village in the Province of Pescara, Abruzzo. With a history documented for over sixty years and origins that some believe date back to the Middle Ages, the fair is traditionally held on the second Sunday of September in the Torre Casamarte area, just a stone's throw from the ancient abbey of Santa Maria in Piano. It is the festival that closes the summer season in Loreto, highlighting the agricultural and pastoral heritage of the region.

The livestock exhibition

The heart of La Fieruccia is the livestock exhibition, where breeders from the Aprutino district showcase their finest animals: the Central Apennine white veal and local lamb are the stars, symbols of high-quality animal husbandry deeply connected to the Abruzzese hilly landscape. The exhibition is accompanied by a conference with institutional representatives and industry experts, organized in collaboration with the A.R.A. (Regional Breeders Association), proving that the fair remains a professional appointment as much as a celebration.

The Saltarella Festival

Among the most anticipated events is the Saltarella Festival - Eliseo Astolfi Prize: a competition featuring Abruzzese folk music groups and players of the organetto (the famous "ddu botte" accordion), all dedicated to the saltarella, a traditional folk dance typical of Abruzzo. The competition also awards prizes for original compositions, helping to keep alive a musical tradition that is part of the town's collective memory.

Flavors of Abruzzo

La Fieruccia is also a grand celebration of taste. The food stalls and the Aprutino BBQ offer local meats—steaks, lamb, and the essential arrosticini—paired with beer and local wines, most notably Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Loreto Aprutino is, after all, famous throughout Italy for its extra virgin olive oil, and the fair is the perfect opportunity to discover the typical products of one of the most authentic villages in the region.

A village to experience

Visiting La Fieruccia also means discovering Loreto Aprutino: Castello Chiola, the abbey of Santa Maria in Piano with its frescoes, the local museums, and the medieval alleys. The fair thus combines rural tradition, folk music, and warm hospitality, offering visitors a genuine glimpse into Abruzzese culture.