Pallotte Cace e Ove Festival

Pallotte cace e ove: the heart of the festival

The Pallotte Cace e Ove Festival is the most anticipated food and wine event in Santa Maria Imbaro, a charming village in the Chieti province, nestled in the rolling hills of the Sangro-Aventino area in Abruzzo. Every year at the end of July, the local Pro Loco brings Piazza della Gioventù to life with three nights dedicated to one of the iconic dishes of Abruzzo's peasant cuisine.

Pallotte cace e ove are meatless meatballs, born from the rural necessity of wasting nothing: they are made with grated aged cheese, eggs, and soaked stale bread, then fried and simmered in a fragrant tomato and basil sauce. It is a simple, hearty dish that the women of the Pro Loco still prepare following traditional family recipes.

Three nights of flavor and conviviality

The food stalls in the square typically open at 8:00 PM. Beyond the pallotte, the menu features other local specialties: grilled sausages, arrosticini, pasta alla mugnaia, and traditional desserts, all paired with draft beer and Abruzzo wines, from Montepulciano d'Abruzzo to Pecorino, produced in the surrounding hills.

The festival is more than just a meal: every evening, the square fills with live music from local bands, while the area hosts displays of local products and vintage cars, along with games and entertainment for children. The atmosphere is that of a genuine village fair, where residents and visitors gather around the same tables.

A cornerstone of local identity

Now in its eighteenth year, the festival has become a staple of the Abruzzo summer and a moment of strong identity for the Santa Maria Imbaro community. Admission is free, and the event attracts visitors every year from across the Costa dei Trabocchi and the Lanciano area.

Santa Maria Imbaro is located just a short distance from the Adriatic coast and the villages of the Val di Sangro, making the festival a perfect opportunity to combine a culinary discovery with an exploration of the Abruzzo region.