San Martino at Bosco Plaja

The San Martino festival at Bosco Plaja

Every autumn, the Bosco Plaja in Introdacqua comes alive for the San Martino festival, an event that celebrates the ancient popular proverb "at San Martino, every must becomes wine." In the heart of the Peligna Valley, on the slopes of Mount Plaja, the day transforms the farm into a large shared space where local families gather among chestnut and fruit trees to bid farewell to the cold season with the flavors and customs of rural tradition.

A forest reclaimed by the Pingue family

Bosco Plaja is an agritourism and educational farm inaugurated in 2021 by the Spinosa Pingue family, who reclaimed about twenty thousand square meters of woodland that was once home to a famous chalet, a landmark for generations of people from L'Aquila and the Peligna area. An orchard, apiary, picnic area, children's playground, refreshment point with a shop, and the Giroplaja—a two-and-a-half-kilometer loop trail accessible even with a stroller—provide the backdrop for an event designed for both adults and children. The philosophy of the place is summed up in three words: trails, silence, and flavors.

Chestnuts, new wine, and polenta

The festival program revolves around the typical products of the Abruzzo autumn. Visitors can enjoy roasted chestnuts prepared over an open fire, steaming polenta served with traditional toppings, and the tasting of new wine, the absolute star of the San Martino tradition. Alongside the food stalls, visitors can stroll through the forest paths and enjoy the warm colors of the foliage in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

Workshops and activities for children

One of the highlights of the day is the creative workshops for children, which use natural materials collected in the woods such as leaves, moss, and chestnuts. Between giant games, green spaces, and educational activities, children enjoy an experience in direct contact with nature, while adults can indulge in moments of relaxation in the hammocks and along the farm's trails.

An event in the Municipality of Introdacqua

The San Martino festival at Bosco Plaja takes place in the Municipality of Introdacqua, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Peligna Abruzzo region. It is one of the many events that, along with the numerous San Martino celebrations held throughout the region, helps keep the autumn tradition of new wine and chestnuts alive, offering residents and visitors a simple and genuine day immersed in the landscape of the Peligna Valley.