In the Footsteps of Transhumance Festival
Sounds, steps, and stories along the Tratturo Magno in Badia di Frisa
About In the Footsteps of Transhumance
A festival along the Tratturo Magno
The In the Footsteps of Transhumance Festival was born in Frisa, in the province of Chieti, as a day dedicated to the memory of the pastoral civilization that traversed Abruzzo for centuries. The heart of the event is the Badia di Frisa area, overlooking the historic Tratturo Magno, the great grassy path that connected L'Aquila to Foggia and along which flocks, shepherds, and cultures once moved. Transhumance was inscribed in 2019 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and this festival brings it to life through nature, history, and music.
A journey through history and landscape
The day opens with a narrative walk along the cattle track, led by the mayor of Frisa, Nicola Labbrozzi, a geologist who guides visitors through the discovery of the territory and its layers. Along the route, expert Concetta De Luca shares insights on identifying and gathering wild edible herbs, while Raffaele Capestrano shares personal stories linked to the peasant and pastoral world. The walk thus becomes a way to read the landscape with new eyes, blending memory, botany, and oral tradition.
Exhibitions, cinema, and the flavors of Abruzzo
In the Transhumance Pavilion, the festival presents the photographic exhibition Peoples and Lands of Wool and the screening of the docufilm The Paths of Wool, both dedicated to the thread that unites the communities of the cattle tracks. The convivial dimension is not forgotten, with a lunch highlighting typical Abruzzo products: an opportunity to rediscover the flavors linked to pastoralism and local tradition.
The Transhumance Concert
The most anticipated moment is the Transhumance Concert - Sounds on the Path, featuring flutist and artistic director Sarah Rulli and the Les Tziganes ensemble, led by violinist Paolo Angelucci. The audience is invited to actively participate in folk dances, including Campanian tammurriate, Salento pizzica, Balkan rhythms, and Mediterranean ballads: a choral finale that turns the spectator into a protagonist.
A heritage to preserve
Promoted by the Municipality of Frisa with the support of the Abruzzo Region, the festival is part of a broader effort to promote cattle tracks as cultural itineraries within the framework of transhumance civilization. For Frisa and the entire province of Chieti, it is an opportunity to bring an identity-defining heritage that belongs to all of Abruzzo back to the center stage.
In the Footsteps of Transhumance — edition 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Badia di Frisa hosted the first edition of the In the Footsteps of Transhumance Festival, on the theme Sounds, steps, and stories along the Tratturo Magno. The day began at 10:00 AM with a narrative walk led by Mayor Nicola Labbrozzi, with the participation of Concetta De Luca for wild herbs and Raffaele Capestrano for life stories. This was followed by lunch with typical Abruzzo products, the photographic exhibition Peoples and Lands of Wool, and the screening of the docufilm The Paths of Wool in the Transhumance Pavilion.
In the evening, at 6:00 PM, the Transhumance Concert - Sounds on the Path with flutist Sarah Rulli and the Les Tziganes ensemble, directed by Paolo Angelucci, involved the audience in folk dances, including pizzica, tammurriate, and Mediterranean rhythms. The event, promoted by the Municipality of Frisa with the support of the Abruzzo Region, was a great public success.
Programme In the Footsteps of Transhumance 2026
- 10:00 AM - Narrative walk on the Tratturo Magno with Mayor Nicola Labbrozzi (geologist), Concetta De Luca (wild edible herbs), and Raffaele Capestrano (life stories)
- 1:00 PM - Lunch with tasting of typical Abruzzo culture products (reservation required)
- 3:00 PM - Photographic exhibition Peoples and Lands of Wool in the Transhumance Pavilion
- 4:00 PM - Screening of the docufilm The Paths of Wool
- 6:00 PM - Transhumance Concert - Sounds on the Path, with Sarah Rulli (flute), Les Tziganes ensemble, Paolo Angelucci (violin), and participatory folk dances
Highlights In the Footsteps of Transhumance 2026
- Narrative walk along the Tratturo Magno, a UNESCO heritage site
- Transhumance Concert with Sarah Rulli and the Les Tziganes ensemble
- Mediterranean folk dances open to the public
- Photographic exhibition and docufilm on the civilization of wool
Prices In the Footsteps of Transhumance 2026
Practical information — In the Footsteps of Transhumance
How to get there
Frisa is located in the province of Chieti, in eastern Abruzzo, a short distance from the Trabocchi Coast. By car, it can be reached via the A14 motorway (Lanciano or Ortona exits), continuing towards the hilly hinterland; the Badia di Frisa area is indicated by local signage. The reference railway stations are Lanciano or those on the Adriatic line.
Admission and bookings
Participation in the day's activities is open to the public; reservations are required for the lunch featuring a tasting of typical products. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walk along the Tratturo Magno.
Information
For dates, times, and program details, it is recommended to refer to the channels of the Municipality of Frisa and the local Abruzzo press.
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Where does it take place — In the Footsteps of Transhumance
Badia di Frisa - Tratturo Magno