San Martino - Chestnuts and Wine

An Autumn Ritual in the Peligna Valley

In the town of Pratola Peligna, in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo), the St. Martin's Day festival is one of the most cherished events of the cold season. As the popular saying goes—"on St. Martin's Day, every must becomes wine"—November 11th marks the moment when the new wine is ready for tasting, and chestnuts become the stars of tables and squares throughout the central Apennines.

The San Martino - Chestnuts and Wine festival was created to celebrate this tradition in a simple, convivial way. Organized by the Spazio Giovane Association, it takes place in the heart of the town, in Piazza Madonna della Libera, at the foot of the sanctuary of the same name, which serves as the community's primary place of devotion.

Chestnuts, Wine, and Mulled Wine

The program revolves around tastings: freshly roasted chestnuts, local new wine, and steaming mulled wine to warm up the autumn afternoon. It is an open-air square festival designed for socializing, where gastronomy is paired with music and the informal atmosphere typical of Abruzzo village celebrations.

• Chestnut tasting (roasted chestnuts)
• Local new wine
• Hot mulled wine
• Music and entertainment in the square

The Tradition of St. Martin in Abruzzo

In Abruzzo, as in much of Italy, the St. Martin's Day festival symbolically closes the agricultural cycle of the year: it is the time when the must is racked, the new wine is tasted, and the fruits of the harvest are shared. The so-called St. Martin's Summer—those mild days that sometimes precede the arrival of the cold—provides the perfect occasion for an outdoor celebration. In Pratola Peligna, this custom is intertwined with village life and devotion to the Madonna della Libera, the community's patron saint.

A Community Gathering

Compared to the region's larger food festivals, San Martino - Chestnuts and Wine maintains a cozy and authentic feel: it is a true village festival, open to families, residents, and visitors passing through the Peligna Valley, just a few kilometers from Sulmona. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover Pratola Peligna in its autumn attire, amidst the scent of roasted chestnuts and the taste of new wine.