Piangozza Festival

The Piangozza Festival in Caramanico Terme

The Piangozza Festival is one of the most cherished culinary celebrations of the summer in Caramanico Terme, a spa town in the province of Pescara set within the Maiella National Park, in Abruzzo. Every year in mid-August, the village gathers around a simple, ancient dish that embodies the rural heritage of the Abruzzo mountains: piangozza.

What is piangozza?

Piangozza (also known as pignaozza in the local dialect) is a homemade pasta made from a sheet of dough rolled out by hand with a rolling pin and then cut into irregular squares, similar to maltagliati. It is dressed with traditional Abruzzese sauce and served with excellent local wine, a pairing that perfectly balances rustic flavor and conviviality. It is a humble, traditional dish deeply rooted in the domestic economy of Maiella families, which the festival brings back to the spotlight every year.

A community celebration in the heart of the Maiella

Promoted by the Pro Loco of Caramanico Terme, the event transforms the streets of the historic center and Viale Fontegrande into a vibrant social space, featuring food stalls, tastings, live music, and popular entertainment. The festival is part of the extensive Caramanico d'Estate calendar, which offers concerts, shows, craft markets, botanical garden excursions, and patronal feasts from June to September, showcasing the territory in all its facets.

Tradition, taste, and territory

The Piangozza Festival is much more than an outdoor dinner: it is a moment of collective identity where locals, visitors, and tourists from the nearby Caramanico Thermal Baths gather to enjoy the flavors of Abruzzese cuisine. The village, a starting point for hikes in the Valle dell'Orfento and along the trails of the Maiella, offers an authentic opportunity during these August evenings to discover the gastronomy and popular traditions of the Pescara hinterland.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held in mid-August, usually in the second half of the month, along Viale Fontegrande and in the historic center of Caramanico Terme. Dates and the program for each edition are announced annually by the Pro Loco and the Municipality through official channels and the village's social media pages.