OVIS – Pastoralism Festival

OVIS: Abruzzo's pastoral heritage takes center stage in Calascio

In Calascio, a tiny stone village perched at over 1,200 meters in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, pastoralism is not a relic of the past but a blueprint for the future. It is here, in the shadow of the spectacular Rocca Calascio, that OVIS – Pastoralism Festival has been held since 2024. The name embodies the four values that serve as its compass: Opportunity, Vision, Innovation, and Sustainability.

Conceived and organized by the Vivi Calascio Community Cooperative as part of the Rocca Calascio – Light of Abruzzo project, supported by PNRR and NextGenerationEU funds, OVIS has a clear goal: to regenerate the pastoral cultural identity of Abruzzo, promote the ancient crafts of transhumance and wool processing, and restore economic dignity to the shepherd's work through innovation and eco-friendly practices.

A whole world revolving around sheep

For a few days, Calascio transforms into an open-air laboratory. The squares and churches of the historic center, such as Piazza della Repubblica and the church of San Leonardo, host a packed program alternating between educational and social moments: round tables and conferences on the future of extensive farming, book presentations, exhibitions and screenings, practical workshops on weaving, wool carding, L'Aquila bobbin lace, and cheesemaking, tastings of pecorino, local cheeses and wines, food stalls, excursions to visit local shepherds and livestock farms, guided tours of the village and the fortress, as well as live music and creative activities for children.

The festival is designed for an intergenerational audience—families, residents, tourists, craft enthusiasts, and professionals in the agri-livestock sector—and features prestigious collaborations with Slow Food, D.R.E.A.M. Italia, and the Calascio School of Specialization for Extensive Pastoralism.

Why it's worth the trip

OVIS is not just a simple food festival: it is a successful attempt to bridge the memory of pastoral civilization with contemporary skills. In a village made famous by international cinema that once risked depopulation, the festival demonstrates how tradition and innovation can coexist to generate new opportunities for the inland areas of the Apennines. For visitors, it is a chance to discover one of Abruzzo's most evocative landscapes, taste authentic mountain flavors, and gain a close-up understanding of a millenary profession finding its path in the present.