Polenta Festival

The Polenta Festival of Villa San Sebastiano

Every summer, the small village of Villa San Sebastiano, in the municipality of Tagliacozzo (L'Aquila province, Abruzzo), becomes the stage for one of the most beloved festivals in the Marsica region: the Polenta Festival. Now in its thirty-plus year, the event is organized by the Gli Amici Cultural and Recreational Association, which is highly active in the area with gastronomic events, social gatherings, and cultural initiatives that bring prestige to the village.

An "out-of-season" dish that unites the community

Polenta, the quintessential winter dish, is served here in the middle of August—a seemingly unconventional choice that has become the event's signature over the years. It is precisely this "out-of-season" polenta, topped with rich and savory sauces, that has successfully united an entire community for over three decades around the long tables set up in the Piazzetta del Monumento.

Flavors of the Marsica tradition

Alongside the star dish, the food stalls offer specialties of Abruzzese popular cuisine: the essential arrosticini (sheep skewers) cooked over charcoal, sandwiches, fries, and other local delicacies, all accompanied by good wine. It is a simple and genuine open-air dinner, designed for families, groups of friends, and passing visitors.

Music, dancing, and conviviality

The evening is not just about gastronomy: live music, dancing, and entertainment for all ages enliven the square until late at night, making the Polenta Festival a true landmark of the summer in the Marsica region. In some editions, the festival has been enriched with special initiatives, such as a commemorative postmark from Poste Italiane and a postcard dedicated to the event.

In the heart of the Marsica

Villa San Sebastiano is a hamlet of Tagliacozzo, a historic town in the Abruzzo hinterland overlooking the Piano del Cavaliere. The festival is part of the rich calendar of summer events in the Marsica and, together with the nearby Fettuccine Festival organized by the Pro Loco, helps make Ferragosto a moment of great celebration for the village and the entire valley.