Pizzonda Festival

The Pizzonda Festival in Civitella Messer Raimondo

In the heart of Abruzzo, perched over 600 meters above sea level on a hill at the foot of the Majella, the village of Civitella Messer Raimondo (Chieti province) preserves one of its most deeply rooted culinary traditions: the Pizzonda Festival. Every year in August, this small community of just over seven hundred inhabitants opens its doors to residents and visitors for an evening dedicated to a simple, ancient dish that symbolizes the peasant cuisine of this inland region.

What is a pizzonda?

The pizzonda, also known as pizz'onta in the local dialect, is essentially a pizza fried in oil. A leavened dough, cooked in local oil, it harkens back to the farming traditions of the past, when lighting the oven was a cause for celebration. During the festival, it is offered in various versions: the classic freshly fried style, stuffed varieties, and the indulgent sweet version with Nutella, which is particularly popular with children. It is a classic street food that tells the story of the gastronomic identity of Civitella and the Abruzzo hinterland.

A long-standing tradition

The event boasts a solid history: in 2025, the Pizzonda Festival reached its thirtieth edition, a testament to an appointment that has been renewed for decades. Documented editions from previous years — from the 25th in 2017 to the 22nd in 2019 — confirm the continuity of an event deeply linked to the village's summer calendar and organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Civitella Messer Raimondo.

The village and the Majella National Park

Civitella Messer Raimondo is part of the Majella National Park, one of the most important protected areas in the central Apennines. The village, inhabited since the Paleolithic era, preserves the castle of the Counts Baglioni, Palazzo Gattone with its Museum of Peasant Civilization, and the Church of the Most Holy Savior, dedicated to Saint Erasmus, the village's patron saint. The Pizzonda Festival takes place in Piazza Belvedere, overlooking the panoramic views of the Majella, an ideal setting for an evening of flavor and music.

Atmosphere and music

In addition to the tastings, the evening is enlivened by live music, with food stalls open from the evening until late at night. The festival represents a moment of gathering for the entire community and an opportunity to introduce visitors to the authentic flavors of inland Abruzzo, blending tradition, hospitality, and mountain landscapes.