Pappardella with Duck Sauce Festival

A tradition of Abruzzese peasant cooking

The Pappardella with Duck Sauce Festival takes place in Montegualtieri, a small hamlet in the municipality of Cermignano, in the province of Teramo, nestled in the heart of the Abruzzo hills. Established in 2016, the event has become one of the most anticipated food and wine gatherings of late summer in the Val Vomano, drawing visitors from across Abruzzo to enjoy a simple yet rich dish steeped in local history.

The signature dish: pappardella with duck sauce

The star of the show is the handmade pappardella, a type of fresh pasta similar to tagliatelle but wider, served with an unmistakable duck sauce. This is a quintessential peasant dish, deeply rooted in Abruzzese rural culture, prepared here according to a recipe passed down through generations of local families. Alongside the main course, food stalls offer grilled sausages with potatoes, arrosticini, stuffed fritters, and other local specialties, with options available for those with celiac disease.

Music, entertainment, and the village of Montegualtieri

Every evening, the festival enlivens the Piane Vomano area with food stalls opening in the evening and live musical entertainment: folk groups, tribute bands, and dance nights take turns on stage, while children's entertainment and local dance school performances are also featured. The event is also a perfect opportunity to discover the medieval village of Montegualtieri, dominated by its famous triangular tower, considered the only one of its kind still standing in Italy. Over the years, the Pro Loco has organized a free shuttle service to reach and visit the tower during the festival evenings.

A recognized "Quality Festival"

The event is organized by the Pro Loco Montegualtieri APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Cermignano and the UNPLI. In March 2026, the Pro Loco Montegualtieri received the "Quality Festival" (Sagra di Qualità) mark from the UNPLI, a recognition established to highlight events characterized by authenticity, reliability, and high quality standards. The plaque was presented in the Sala Koch of the Senate of the Republic in Rome, testifying to the cultural and identity-driven value achieved by this Abruzzese festival.