Poggio Cinolfo Gnocchi Festival

The Poggio Cinolfo Gnocchi Festival

The Gnocchi Festival is one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of the summer in Poggio Cinolfo, a small mountain hamlet in the municipality of Carsoli, in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Perched at over 700 meters above sea level on the northern slopes of the Carseolani Mountains, the village kicks off the summer season with an evening dedicated to taste, local history, and folklore, drawing visitors from the nearby Piana del Cavaliere and the entire Marsica area.

A Long-Standing Tradition

Reaching its twenty-ninth edition in 2025, the festival is passionately organized by the Pro Loco Aginulfo APS, whose name recalls the village's ancient medieval designation—Poggio Siginolfo or Poggio Ginolfo—linked to the first lord of the village, a member of the Berardi family from the County of Marsi. The event has become a staple of the Abruzzo summer calendar and a gathering point for the community and those returning to the village for their holidays.

Traditional Dishes

The undisputed stars of the evening are the gnocchi with mutton sauce, prepared according to the traditional recipe of Abruzzo's pastoral cuisine. The food stalls also offer mutton bites in sauce, a side of bean salad, as well as wine and water. The format is the classic village festival style, with stalls open throughout the evening and a fixed-price menu designed to showcase the genuine flavors of the region.

Music and Conviviality

The evening is not just about fine dining: after dinner, the party continues with live music and dancing, enlivening the village center until late. Taste, tradition, and joy blend in an event that unites the Poggio Cinolfo community and welcomes visitors in an authentic atmosphere, typical of the village festivals in the Abruzzo Apennines.

A Village to Discover

The festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit Poggio Cinolfo, dominated by the baronial palace from which one can admire the Piana del Cavaliere and the peaks of the Carseolani Mountains. The village, a fiefdom of the Orsini family in the Middle Ages and linked to the noble Florentine Segni family in the 18th century, retains a discreet charm and a strong bond with its roots, which the Pro Loco celebrates every year through this gastronomic feast.