Novello al Castello

Novello al Castello: Catignano lights up for the new wine

Novello al Castello is the new wine festival that brings the medieval historic center of Catignano—a small town in the province of Pescara, in the heart of the Abruzzo Vestina area—to life every autumn. Established in 2006 by the local community, the event transforms the alleys, squares, and ancient cellars around the Castle into a journey of taste, music, and tradition, celebrating the first wine of the recently concluded harvest.

The historic cellars reopen their doors

The heart of the event lies in the old village cellars, reopened for the occasion, where visitors can taste new wine by the glass or bottle alongside local products. Along Via del Castello, Corso Umberto, Via Roma, and Piazza Marconi, numerous food stalls offer specialties of Abruzzese cuisine: arrosticini, sausage and porchetta, calzoni and fried pizzas, bruschetta, sagne e fagioli, cheeses, chestnuts, traditional desserts, mulled wine, and artisanal liqueurs.

Music, street performers, and street food

The two evenings are accompanied by live bands, DJ sets, and street performers who animate every corner of the town with folk music, traveling shows, and entertainment for all ages. The intimate atmosphere of the illuminated and bustling village makes Novello al Castello one of the most anticipated autumn events in the province of Pescara.

A village between the Gran Sasso and the Maiella

Catignano stands in the Vestina area, bordered by the Nora and Cigno streams, with views stretching from the peaks of the Gran Sasso and Maiella to the Adriatic coast. While few traces of the medieval castle remain in the oldest part of the town, the festival uses this core to recover and highlight the village's architectural and urban heritage. The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Catignano APS, with the patronage of the Municipality of Catignano.

Admission and information

Admission to the festival is free: to purchase food and drinks at the cellars and stalls, a practical token system is used, available at the cash desks set up throughout the village. Over the years, the Pro Loco has also provided a shuttle service from Pescara and Chieti to make reaching Catignano easy on the main night.