Impanata Festival

The Impanata Festival in Castellana Grotte

Every September, the historic center of Castellana Grotte—a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari world-renowned for its Grotte di Castellana—hosts the Impanata Festival, one of the most cherished and long-standing gastronomic events in Puglia. Established in 1984, the festival has become the community's traditional way of bidding farewell to summer and welcoming autumn, rediscovering a humble yet deeply rooted dish passed down through generations.

What is Impanata?

Impanata is the quintessential Castellana dish: a puree of dried, hulled fava beans mixed with boiled chicory (wild or cultivated) and chunks of crusty stale bread, all drizzled with generous amounts of extra virgin olive oil. It is traditionally served with olives, red onion salad, fried peppers, and pickled vegetables. It is a perfect example of peasant cooking that wastes nothing, transforming simple ingredients into a nutritious and flavorful meal. Today, Impanata is officially recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT) by the Ministry of Agriculture and is listed among the gastronomic treasures of the Puglia Region.

Two days of flavor and culture

During the festival, the old town comes alive across Largo San Leone Magno, Largo Bari, and Piazza Garibaldi, with tasting stalls serving Impanata prepared according to the traditional recipe. The event features a rich program of talks and meetings dedicated to healthy food culture, concerts, pizzica dance performances, folk music, children's entertainment, and local craft markets. The event is part of the city's summer calendar and aims to promote not only the dish but also the entire historic center and the city's rich heritage.

A community event

The Impanata Festival is organized by the Castellana Conviene association with the patronage and collaboration of the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, Grotte di Castellana srl, the Città dell'Olio association, and the Puglia Region, alongside local trade associations. It is an ideal opportunity for visitors staying in the Itria Valley or exploring the province of Bari to combine a visit to the famous caves with a dive into authentic Apulian folk cuisine.