Pecure allu Cutture Festival

A festival that tells the story of Abruzzo's pastoral heritage

The Pecure allu Cutture Festival takes place in Pacentro, in the province of L'Aquila, one of the most evocative villages in Abruzzo. Included in the Borghi più Belli d'Italia (Most Beautiful Villages of Italy) circuit, it overlooks the imposing Majella massif. Organized by the Pro Loco Association of Pacentro with the support of the Municipality, the event transforms Piazza del Popolo and the stone alleys of the historic center for one evening into a grand banquet dedicated to the dish that best represents the town's identity.

Pecora al cotturo, the shepherds' dish

The absolute star is the pecora al cotturo: a mutton stew with a bold, rich flavor, slow-cooked for many hours in a large copper cauldron called a cutture, along with potatoes, rosemary, garlic, pepper, and traditional spices. It was the shepherds' dish, who would cook the meat for a long time over the fire during transhumance to make it tender and flavorful. Today, it is considered a local culinary excellence, passed down from generation to generation.

More than just mutton: the flavors of the Majella

Alongside the main dish, the festival stalls offer other local specialties linked to shepherding and mountain life:

• Arrosticini, the iconic Abruzzese mutton skewers;
• Cheeses produced by animals grazing on the Majella meadows;
• Zampanella and other traditional local cured meats;
• Local wine and village products.

Music, folklore, and memories of transhumance

The evening combines tastings with a rich backdrop of folk music, traditional songs, and moments dedicated to pastoral culture, with the goal—as stated by the Pro Loco—of restoring Pacentro's historical link with pastoral activities and mountain landscapes. Themed exhibitions and displays guide the public in discovering the life of shepherds and the transhumance that has animated these mountains for centuries.

An environmentally conscious event

For several editions, the Pacentro Pro Loco has chosen to make the festival plastic-free, replacing disposable tableware and materials with compostable alternatives, in line with European directives on plastic reduction. A gesture that combines the protection of tradition with that of the mountain environment that frames the event.

Experiencing Pacentro

Attending the festival is also an opportunity to discover Pacentro, with its Caldora-Cantelmo Castle, medieval towers, and cobblestone alleys that make it one of the most photographed villages in inland Abruzzo. Free admission: you only pay for what you consume at the various tasting points.