Porcini Mushroom Festival

A festival dedicated to the porcini mushrooms of the Monti della Laga

The Porcini Mushroom Festival is the most anticipated gastronomic event of the summer in Rocca Santa Maria, a scattered municipality in the Province of Teramo, immersed in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Every year, towards the end of August, the main square of the village transforms into a large open-air restaurant where the absolute star is the porcini mushroom, harvested in the woods of Il Ceppo and Martese that surround the town.

The Il Ceppo porcino, an Abruzzo excellence

The porcini mushrooms of the Monti della Laga are considered among the finest in the Central Apennines. They grow in the beech forests of the Il Ceppo area, at over 1,300 meters above sea level, and in the Martese area, where the cool climate and abundant water create the ideal conditions for their growth. The festival was born precisely to promote this iconic local product and the harvesting tradition that has accompanied the life of the small hamlets of Rocca Santa Maria for generations.

What to eat

The menu revolves entirely around the porcini mushroom, offered in many preparations of the Laga mountain cuisine:

• tagliatelle and other pasta dishes with porcini mushrooms;
• fried and sautéed porcini;
• grilled dishes and meat-based plates accompanied by mushrooms;
• the essential arrosticini, a symbol of Teramo gastronomy;
• local desserts and typical products.

The food stalls, managed by local organizations, generally open in the evening; on the final day, service begins at lunchtime. In case of rain, covered areas are provided to ensure the festival continues even with the uncertain weather typical of the mountains.

Music and village atmosphere

Every evening, the festival is enlivened by live music and entertainment, turning the square into a convivial meeting point for residents, vacationers, and hikers. The atmosphere is that of a genuine Abruzzo mountain feast—simple, welcoming, and far from the major tourist crowds.

A village to discover

Visiting the Porcini Mushroom Festival is also an opportunity to discover Rocca Santa Maria, one of the highest and most picturesque municipalities in the province of Teramo, made up of numerous small hamlets scattered among the woods. All around are the trails of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, the Morricana waterfalls, and the wild landscapes of the Laga, an ideal destination for nature and trekking enthusiasts.