Notte del Saltarello

Notte del Saltarello in Castel Castagna

The Notte del Saltarello is one of the most anticipated summer events in the Teramo Apennines. It takes place in Castel Castagna, a small town in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, at the foot of the Gran Sasso massif. The venue is the evocative Abbey of Santa Maria di Ronzano, a Romanesque jewel of Benedictine origin that houses one of the oldest fresco cycles in the region.

A festival dedicated to the saltarello

The heart of the event is the saltarello, the ancient folk dance of Abruzzo, celebrated alongside its many local variations: the pizzica, the saltarella of the Vomano Valley, the spallata of Schiavi d'Abruzzo, and the quadriglia. The goal is to promote and appreciate the saltarello in all its nuances, highlighting Abruzzo's musical tradition and the identity of its inland communities. The evening is accompanied live by the Orchestra Popolare del Saltarello, which blends performances by national guests with traditional folk songs.

How the day unfolds

The program kicks off in the late afternoon with the "Waiting for the Festival" section: workshops on making traditional puppets, folk dance classes open to all ages, and performances by folk groups from across Abruzzo. As evening falls, the main concert begins on the abbey's parvis, which has hosted famous names in Italian music over the years. There is also a dedicated food area featuring street food and typical Abruzzese cuisine, paired with a selection of local beverages.

A local event

The festival is promoted by the GAL Gran Sasso Laga in collaboration with the Municipality of Castel Castagna and is part of a broader project to promote folk dance, connecting various events across the Teramo area. Admission is free, and a free shuttle service from the parking areas runs until late at night, allowing visitors to reach the abbey comfortably. Guided tours of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Ronzano and the Benedictine documentation center are also organized.

Why attend

• A large, free evening concert with Italian music stars
• Abruzzese folk dance workshops and classes open to everyone
• The unique setting of a thousand-year-old Romanesque abbey
• Street food and traditional cuisine of the Teramo Apennines
• Free shuttle service and free admission