Romantic Night in Navelli

Romantic Night in Navelli

The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy is a national event held every year around the summer solstice to celebrate love and the beauty of Italy's small historic centers. Among the Abruzzo villages participating is Navelli, a stunning town in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, perched on a hill overlooking the plateau of the same name, world-famous for its saffron cultivation.

The village of saffron

Navelli is one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and preserves a medieval historic center of great charm: narrow alleys, stone staircases, arches, and houses spiraling up to the hill dominated by the Baronial Palace (Palazzo Santucci). The area is famous for the DOP L'Aquila Saffron, the "red gold" that colors the plateau's fields every autumn and is the star of local gastronomy, starting with the iconic saffron risotto.

What happens during the evening

During the Romantic Night, from sunset until late at night, the village lights up simultaneously with lamps, torches, and candles. The widespread program offers moments common to all participating villages along with activities specific to Navelli:

• strolls and musical corners scattered throughout the alleys of the historic center;
• food and wine stalls along Piazza San Pelino featuring Navelli saffron risotto, sagne and fried potatoes, arrosticini, and ferratelle;
• the art exhibition "Saffron, the gold that sprouts", dedicated to the village's symbolic spice;
• guided tours of the medieval village;
• the official dessert "Thought of Love", served simultaneously in all participating villages.

A unique atmosphere under the stars

The national edition's central theme is love and memories: an invitation to rediscover emotions and memories linked to places of the heart amidst the stones of this L'Aquila village. The setting of the historic center, the starry summer solstice sky, and the hospitality of the local community make the evening in Navelli an intimate and authentic experience, far from mass tourism.

Useful information

The participation of individual villages in the Romantic Night varies from year to year based on municipal registrations. It is recommended to check Navelli's participation and updated program on the official channels of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and the Municipality before planning your visit.