Serenate nel Borgo

A journey into Abruzzo's folk tradition

In the municipality of Crognaleto, set among the woods of the Laga Mountains in the province of Teramo, Serenate nel Borgo is the event that brings the folkloric heritage of the Abruzzo mountains back to life. For one evening, the village center turns into a true laboratory of sounds, colors, and emotions, where the community gathers to celebrate its cultural identity and the joy of being together.

From late afternoon, the streets of the historic center come alive with musicians, singers, and dancers who guide visitors on an itinerant journey through Abruzzo's folk tradition, composed of music, song, and theatrical performances scattered throughout the village alleys.

The re-enactment of the wedding serenade

The most anticipated moment is the re-enactment of the wedding serenade, an ancient ritual that took place the night before the wedding: the groom-to-be, accompanied by musicians and friends, would sing under the bride's window to win her heart. Through song, dance, and interaction with the audience, the performers reconstruct the various phases of this ritual, restoring a precious fragment of the Laga farming culture.

Traditional instruments

The musical performances rely on ancient and now-rare instruments, guardians of the territory's sonic memory:

• Zampogna, the unmistakable bagpipe of the central-southern tradition
• Taccarella, a silent wooden tambourine
• Crolla, a rhythmic wooden instrument
• Vurravurre, a friction drum made with goatskin
• Dubbotte, a diatonic accordion typical of Abruzzo folk festivals

Exhibitions, flavors, and community

Inside the historic center, there is a vintage object exhibition that tells the story of daily life in the past, while food stalls offer traditional sandwiches accompanied by local beverages. The project was conceived by Gianni Quaranta, while its realization is entrusted to the Pro Loco of Crognaleto, led by president Cesare Quaranta, with the participation of folk groups from the La Torre cultural association of Torricella Sicura and the Compagnia della Pescara.

A cultural stronghold for the Teramo mountains

More than just an evening of entertainment, Serenate nel Borgo is a bastion of memory and identity for a mountain community in the Teramo Apennines that thrives on returns and roots. In a territory marked by depopulation, events like this keep the traditions of the Laga alive and reconnect residents, emigrants, and visitors to the authentic charm of the villages of inland Abruzzo.