MarsicaLand – Widespread Agri-Food Festival

MarsicaLand, the story of Marsica in Avezzano

MarsicaLand – Widespread Agri-Food Festival is the event that every September brings the story of the gastronomic and cultural identity of the Fucino territory to Avezzano, in the heart of Marsica. Promoted by the Municipality of Avezzano together with the Abruzzo Region, the Province of L'Aquila, and a wide network of organizations and trade associations, the festival celebrates the agri-food excellence of inland Abruzzo in a "widespread" format that involves the squares and spaces of the city center.

The Direct Earth Market

The beating heart of the event is the large Direct Earth Market, set up in Piazza Risorgimento and Piazza del Mercato. Here, local producers present and sell their regional specialties directly through a short supply chain: ancient grains and legumes, oil, saffron, honey, truffles, cheeses, and the famous Patata del Fucino PGI. Farmers, breeders, cheesemakers, truffle hunters, beekeepers, and winemakers bring to life a market that is both a commercial showcase and an opportunity for direct connection with those who cultivate and raise.

A program of taste, culture, and tradition

The days of MarsicaLand alternate between appointments dedicated to taste and cultural reflection. There is no shortage of show cooking with the participation of the Provincial Chefs Association, tastings of Abruzzo wines, round tables on the themes of tourism, mountain viticulture, and biodiversity, as well as educational workshops on mycology and local history. In the evening, the squares come alive with concerts, ranging from folk music to acts like "Zampogna in Rock".

The Marsi Procession

The most evocative and identity-defining moment of the festival is the Marsi Procession, which brings together over 250 participants in period costumes from the various towns of the district, accompanied by agricultural wagons, tractors, animals, and scenic elements. A collective re-enactment that celebrates the peasant roots of Marsica and involves the entire community.

A territory to discover

MarsicaLand is much more than a food festival: it is a project that enhances the agri-food sector as an engine for sustainable development for inland Abruzzo. Visiting the festival in Avezzano means discovering the flavors, knowledge, and landscapes of the Fucino plain, amidst the excellence of a territory nestled between the mountains of the Abruzzo Apennines.