Pecora alla Callara Festival

A pastoral tradition in the heart of the Adriatic summer

The Pecora alla Callara Festival takes place every August in Villa Rosa, a seaside district of the municipality of Martinsicuro, located at the northern tip of the Abruzzo coast in the province of Teramo, just a stone's throw from the Tronto river that marks the border with the Marche region. Established in 2000 by the Pro Loco of Villa Rosa, the event has grown into one of the most anticipated culinary highlights of the Val Vibrata summer, drawing large crowds each evening to the charming pine forest on Via C. Franchi.

Pecora alla callara: a humble dish of the transhumance

At the heart of the festival is a dish from the humble Abruzzo cuisine, deeply rooted in the pastoral tradition of transhumance. The mutton is slow-cooked for about three hours in large callare (copper cauldrons) with bay leaves, rosemary, onion, carrots, and celery. It is then transferred to trays and cooked further until it becomes stracotta (extra tender): the result is lean, soft meat with an intense and distinct flavor. It is served in two variations, with or without sauce.

A menu of peasant traditions

Beyond the signature dish, the food stalls offer a rich menu tied to the local territory:

• Rigatoni with mutton sauce, the house specialty
• Frittelle, simple or with prosciutto, also known as "pizzone"
• Arrosticini, the mutton skewers that are the symbol of Abruzzo
• Sandwiches with sausage and porchetta, french fries, and other specialties
• Beer, wine, and beverages

Five evenings under the pine trees

The festival spans five consecutive evenings, with stalls generally opening from 7:30 PM. The tasting experience is accompanied by live music, entertainment, and, on the final night, the traditional prize lottery, which serves as the highlight closing the festivities. The setting in the pine forest, just a few meters from the sea, makes the event one of the most pleasant ways to combine the flavors of the Abruzzo hinterland with the atmosphere of the Riviera.

A bridge between mountains and sea

The Pecora alla Callara Festival perfectly captures the identity of Abruzzo: a dish born among the pastures of the mountainous hinterland that comes to life on the coast, thanks to the work of the Pro Loco volunteers. For those spending their summer holidays between Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatica, and the Val Vibrata, it is an authentic opportunity to savor traditional Abruzzo cuisine in a convivial and popular setting.