Fresh Pasta Festival

A mountain festival in the heart of the Alto Sangro

The Fresh Pasta Festival is one of the most cherished gastronomic events of the summer in Pietransieri, a small hamlet within the Municipality of Roccaraso, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo mountains. Nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,360 meters on the mountain slopes, the village comes alive every year around Piazza Garibaldi, which for one full day becomes the beating heart of the celebration, filled with the aroma of ragù, lively conversation, and music.

Handmade pasta takes center stage

The core of the event is fresh handmade pasta, prepared according to the village's rustic mountain traditions. The stalls set up in the square serve a wide variety of dishes featuring pasta rolled out by local housewives, dressed with rich, flavorful sauces typical of Abruzzese cuisine. The service is split into two sessions: lunch, starting in the late morning, and dinner, welcoming visitors and hikers from the peak of the summer day into the evening.

The Pittera competition and ballroom dancing

Beyond the table, the festival preserves its most folkloric traditions. In the afternoon, the Pittera competition takes place—a traditional and lighthearted event that draws crowds to the square—while the evening gives way to musical entertainment with ballroom dance orchestras and Latin rhythms, creating a festive atmosphere that brings generations together. It is an authentic, simple, and convivial popular celebration, far from polished commercial events and closer to the soul of a village reconnecting with itself.

The Alpini and the village identity

The event is organized by the A.N.A. Alpini Group of Pietransieri, which provides volunteers, kitchens, and logistics every year. The involvement of the 'penne nere' (the Alpini) is not coincidental: Pietransieri is a town deeply marked by history, having been the site of the tragic Limmari Massacre in November 1943, for which the Municipality of Roccaraso was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor. Thus, the festival is not just a culinary celebration but also a way to keep the community and the memory of this corner of Abruzzo alive.

A highlight of the Roccaraso summer

The Fresh Pasta Festival is part of the rich summer calendar of Roccaraso and its hamlets (Pietransieri, Aremogna, Pizzalto), which offers dozens of events each year spanning culture, sports, music, and popular traditions. For those visiting the Alto Sangro during the summer months, it represents the ideal opportunity to discover mountain cuisine and the genuine hospitality of a small Abruzzese village.