Madonna della Ricotta Festival (SS. Annunziata)

A festival born from transhumance

The Madonna della Ricotta Festival is one of the most iconic traditions of Carlantino, a village nestled in the Daunian Mountains in the province of Foggia, at the northernmost edge of Puglia. Its origins are rooted in the culture of transhumance: shepherds from Abruzzo, Molise, and Central Italy would bring their flocks to graze on Mount San Giovanni, within the lands of Carlantino. As a gesture of gratitude to the community that provided them with pasture, and as an act of devotion, they would offer milk, cheese, and ricotta to the Madonna dell'Annunziata. This is the origin of the popular name by which the festival is known today.

Why it is called Madonna della Ricotta

The official title of the event is the Santissima Annunziata, but popular devotion has renamed it "Madonna della Ricotta" in memory of the shepherds' dairy offerings. The spiritual heart of the festival is the Chapel of the Santissima Annunziata, located at the foot of the hill, which was reopened for worship in 2023 after nearly a decade of restoration. The festival thus becomes a cultural and spiritual bridge between three regions, a moment when Carlantino reconnects with its pastoral and rural roots.

Re-enacting the milk processing

The core of the event is the historical re-enactment of ricotta production. Throughout the morning, in numerous stalls set up in the village, shepherds and local producers process milk in front of the public, demonstrating every step of the transformation into cheese, mozzarella, and ricotta. It is an authentic experience that brings visitors and curious onlookers closer to the ancient practices of shepherding, with the opportunity to taste typical products from the Daunian territory.

Between the sacred and the popular: band, mass, and procession

The day begins early with the sound of bells and firecrackers, followed by a marching band parading through the village streets. At noon, a Holy Mass is celebrated in honor of the Madonna, followed by a musical performance. In the late afternoon, the solemn procession featuring the statues of the Madonna and the Archangel Gabriel winds through the streets, accompanied by local authorities and the community. The evening is dedicated to secular festivities, with live concerts and a midnight fireworks display in the Annunziata plain.

Carlantino and the Daunian Mountains

Immersed in the green landscape of the Daunian Mountains, on the border with Molise and a short distance from Abruzzo, Carlantino is a small municipality that proudly preserves its traditions. The Madonna della Ricotta Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover this lesser-known corner of Puglia, far from the beaten tourist paths, where faith, gastronomy, and the memory of pastoral life intertwine in one great community celebration.