Laga Rural Villages Cultural Festival

A festival spread across the Laga villages

The Laga Rural Villages Cultural Festival is a travelling event that every summer crosses the small mountain towns straddling Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, and Umbria, united by the Laga Mountains massif. In the municipality of Rocca Santa Maria, in the Province of Teramo, the festival is hosted in the hamlet of Faiete, one of the most evocative villages on the Teramo side, located within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.

Intangible heritage at the heart

The event was created with the aim of preserving and passing on the intangible heritage of the Laga communities: the local dialect, folk songs, dances, ancient crafts, and agropastoral memory. In Rocca Santa Maria, the day opens with institutional greetings and a visit to the photographic exhibition set up in the old church of San Pietro, followed by the traditional community "Sdjiuno", a convivial moment that evokes the local farming customs.

Historic songs and traditional dances

The afternoon is dedicated to traditional music and dance: under the guidance of anthropologist Noretta Nori, historic songs performed by the Bilanzola sisters alternate with folk dances accompanied by the music of Vito Valleriani and Claudio Malatesta. It is an opportunity to rediscover an oral repertoire at risk of being lost, which comes back to life here in the village squares.

A widespread event across the territory

The festival is not limited to a single location: the programme in Rocca Santa Maria connects with initiatives in nearby villages, such as Altavilla and Schiaviano in the municipality of Montorio al Vomano, featuring scenic hikes, readings, tastings of local products, and visits to historical settlements, ancient springs, and centuries-old trees. All this is in line with a perspective of slow and sustainable tourism, consistent with the naturalistic vocation of the Laga Mountains.

Organisers

The festival is promoted by the Borghi e Sentieri della Laga Association together with numerous municipalities in the district, with the collaboration of FederTrek Escursionismo e Ambiente and the support of bodies such as BIM Teramo, the Tercas Foundation, the Province of Teramo, and Slow Food. The event also enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Italian Geographical Society, and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park Authority.

A free and participatory experience

Admission to the events is free. For the Faiete stage, booking is recommended, and as short walks are planned, trekking shoes and appropriate clothing are advised. The Laga Villages Festival is an invitation to discover the authentic Abruzzo, that of the rural villages of the Laga, where popular culture and the mountain landscape merge into a unique experience.