Pasta alla Pecorara Festival (Pecorino Cheese Festival)

The pastoral cuisine festival of Calascio

In Calascio, a small mountain village in the province of L'Aquila famous for its Rocca—one of the highest and most striking fortresses in Italy—summer has an ancient flavor. The Pasta alla Pecorara Festival, historically known as the Pecorino Cheese Festival, is one of the most deeply rooted gastronomic events on the Navelli Plateau, drawing its inspiration from the shepherding culture that has shaped these inland Abruzzo mountains for centuries.

The star of the show is pasta alla pecorara, a hearty, humble dish from the shepherds' tradition: homemade pasta tossed in a rich tomato sauce with seasonal vegetables, ricotta, and plenty of grated pecorino. It is the very recipe shepherds once prepared with whatever ingredients they had on hand during the transhumance, and today, the Pro Loco of Calascio recreates it with faithful dedication.

More than just pasta: a triumph of pecorino

Alongside the signature pasta, food stalls set up in the historic center offer other mountain specialties: local pecorino cheese, ricotta ravioli topped with local cheese, arrosticini (sheep skewers), lentil soup (just a stone's throw from the famous Santo Stefano di Sessanio lentils), meatballs, fried pizza, and traditional desserts. Everything is paired with fine Abruzzese wines, first and foremost the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

The festival is also a community celebration: throughout the evenings, the village comes alive with live folk music, traditional dancing, and concerts, while the narrow streets host a market exhibition of local food and artisan crafts, featuring demonstrations of cheese-making and other local specialties. There are also plenty of activities for children and families.

A village to experience

Attending the festival is the perfect excuse to discover one of the most fascinating villages in Abruzzo. From the center of Calascio, you can walk to Rocca Calascio in about half an hour—the castle that dominates the valley and has served as a set for numerous films. The event, organized by the Pro Loco of Calascio, is traditionally held between the first and second Sunday of August, at the height of the summer season in the province of L'Aquila.

The Pasta alla Pecorara Festival is much more than a food event: it is a way to keep the memory of the pastoral life that shaped this corner of Abruzzo alive, bringing back flavors, habits, and traditions that might otherwise disappear.