Local Traditional Sweets Festival in the Village

The Villa Romagnoli Sweets Festival

The Local Traditional Sweets Festival in the Village is one of the most anticipated food and wine events of the summer in the province of Chieti. It takes place in Villa Romagnoli, a small hamlet in the municipality of Mozzagrogna, nestled in the rolling hills of Abruzzo, just a short distance from the Costa dei Trabocchi. Now in its thirty-ninth year, the event transforms the village streets and squares into a culinary journey entirely dedicated to traditional local pastry.

A journey through Abruzzo's confectionery tradition

The heart of the festival lies in the traditional sweets prepared according to ancient family recipes. Along the route, you can taste specialties that define the region's gastronomic identity:

• Bocconotti, the festival's signature pastry, delicate shortcrust pastry shells filled with cream or jam;
• Fiadoni, traditional Easter pastries made with cheese;
• Cantucci and tarallucci, perfect for dipping in wine;
• Pizzelle (also known as ferratelle), cooked using traditional irons;
• Mostaccioli, crispelle, and the classic sweet pesche.

There is also no shortage of savory Abruzzo cuisine, such as pallotte cace e ove (cheese and egg balls) and ragù-based dishes, alongside the essential arrosticini and local wines.

The Bocconotto Competition and the DeCO certification

A distinctive element of the event is the Bocconotto Competition, which pits the village's home bakers against one another in the preparation of its most iconic pastry. The Villa Romagnoli bocconotto has earned the Municipal Denomination of Origin (DeCO), a recognition that protects and promotes the recipe as a core part of the Mozzagrogna heritage. A jury of experts, chefs, and local officials awards the best interpretation during a ceremony that officially opens the evening.

Atmosphere and organization

Organized with passion by the Pro Loco Romagnoli, the festival combines tastings, live music, and entertainment spread throughout the village squares. It is an opportunity to rediscover the authentic taste of inland Abruzzo and the warm hospitality of a community that has been preserving and passing down its recipes for nearly forty years. An unmissable event for food lovers and those who enjoy slow, genuine food tourism in the province of Chieti.