Gust'Art – Food That Inspires Masterpieces

A festival that turns food into art

Gust'Art – Food That Inspires Masterpieces is a travelling cultural festival that debuted in 2025 in Avezzano, in the heart of the Marsica region, in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo). The initiative was born from an idea by the IIS "Arrigo Serpieri" and is coordinated by Pasquina Fracassi, in collaboration with the Marsica Sommelier Association (AssoMarSo) and the CAI – Italian Alpine Club. The project offers a multisensory journey where gastronomy and art become a single narrative, capable of telling the story of the Marsica territory through its flavours, symbols, and history.

A journey through the iconic landmarks of Marsica

The festival is designed as an itinerary that touches some of the most fascinating locations in the district. The journey starts at the Aia dei Musei in Avezzano, a museum space housing the Marsica Lapidarium and the memory of the Fucino drainage, before continuing to places steeped in history such as the Piccolomini Castle of Celano, the Tower of Santa Jona, and the Castle of Ortucchio, before returning to Avezzano for the finale.

Food, art, and culture in dialogue

Each event is conceived as an opportunity to reflect on food not just as nourishment, but as an artistic and emotional language, a bridge between generations, and a guardian of collective memory. The meetings alternate between informative talks, tastings guided by local sommeliers, and storytelling sessions ranging from art to food science. Themes addressed across the various stops include the link between painting and nutrition, the symbolism of food in art, and the "laid table" as a ritual and cultural expression.

Student involvement

Gust'Art also serves as an open-air laboratory for local students. The Art High School and the I.I.S. "Galileo Galilei" of Avezzano actively collaborate on the festival: the students, guided by their teachers, designed the official poster and participate in the promotion of local heritage, becoming key players in a project that merges education, creativity, and cultural promotion.

A signature event for the Municipality of Avezzano

Supported by the Municipality of Avezzano and included in the city's summer calendar, the festival involves administrators, schools, and associations from the Marsica area. Gust'Art represents an opportunity to discover inland Abruzzo from an unusual perspective, where gastronomic and artistic heritage intertwine to narrate the identity of Marsica.