From Etna to Gran Sasso

A bridge between Etna and Gran Sasso

"From Etna to Gran Sasso" was for nearly two decades one of the most well-known and beloved summer events in the province of Pescara. Born in 2003 from the twinning agreement signed in 2001 between the Municipality of Città Sant'Angelo, in Abruzzo, and that of Nicolosi, on the slopes of Mount Etna in the province of Catania, the festival built an ideal bridge every July between two mountain territories—the Sicily of Etna and the Abruzzo of Gran Sasso—united by the desire to share their stories through flavors, crafts, and folk traditions.

The village that becomes a festival

During the event's evenings, the medieval historic center of Città Sant'Angelo transformed into a journey of colors, scents, and music. Amidst alleys, squares, and courtyards, the public could move from Sicilian food stalls to Abruzzese gastronomy stands, in a culinary itinerary that has always been the heart of the event. On one side, arancini, cannoli, granita, and artisanal gelato; on the other, the essential arrosticini and typical products of the local area, with special attention also given to gluten-free options created in collaboration with the Italian Celiac Association.

Crafts, ceramics, and art

Alongside gastronomy, "From Etna to Gran Sasso" always gave ample space to the artistic crafts of both regions. Among the most precious exhibits were the Castelli ceramics, a symbol of Abruzzese art, and works in lava stone from Etna, displayed in the village's cloisters and historic storage rooms (fondaci). Past editions featured painting exhibitions, artifacts, displays by the Abruzzese Artistic Craft Exhibition Board, and installations hosted in the Franciscan cloister and the Coppa Zuccari Fondaci.

Folklore, Sicilian carts, and shows

The popular and spectacular dimension was another hallmark of the festival: parades of traditional Sicilian carts, folk groups, square dancing, dialect theater, cabaret, and evening concerts enlivened the village until late, with the participation of the Nicolosi community as a twinning partner. Over the years, the organization involved local associations, Coldiretti Campagna Amica, and the municipal administrations of Città Sant'Angelo and Nicolosi, under the patronage of the Abruzzo Region.

The cancelled 2026 edition

The 2026 edition, which was intended to mark the twentieth and symbolic anniversary of the event, will not take place. The "From Etna to Gran Sasso" Social Promotion Association announced the cancellation, citing growing organizational difficulties, increasingly complex bureaucracy, rising responsibilities for volunteers, and insufficient sponsorship. The mayor of Città Sant'Angelo, Matteo Perazzetti, expressed regret over the decision, confirming the administration's willingness to support a potential future revival of the event.

A lasting legacy

Even without the 2026 edition, "From Etna to Gran Sasso" remains one of the most significant experiences of the last twenty years in the Angolano summer: a festival that successfully united, through food, art, and celebration, two communities geographically distant but close in spirit—the Abruzzo of the Gran Sasso and the Sicily of Etna.