Settimana del Pesce Azzurro
A week of taste and health between Ancona and Falconara Marittima
About Settimana del Pesce Azzurro
When the sea is good for the heart
The Settimana del Pesce Azzurro (Oily Fish Week) is an event that every year, at the beginning of June, enlivens the restaurants of Ancona and nearby Falconara Marittima, in the Marche region. For six days, participating eateries offer a menu dedicated to Adriatic oily fish at an agreed price, transforming a restaurant meal into a small gesture for heart health prevention.
The initiative stems from a simple and generous idea: oily fish — sardines, anchovies, mackerel — is one of the foods richest in Omega-3 fatty acids, precious allies in preventing cardiovascular diseases, still the leading cause of death in Italy today. Eating well, therefore, can also mean eating healthily.
Who Organizes
The event is promoted by the association CuoreVivo ONLUS, chaired by Dr. Roberto Antonicelli, director of Cardiology at INRCA in Ancona. The event is made possible through collaboration with the Ancona Fishermen's Association, CNA, Sanidoc, and INRCA, in a synergy that brings together medicine, catering, and the local fish supply chain.
The Menu for the Heart
Participating restaurants offer a themed menu at a fixed price, designed to introduce traditional recipes of Ancona's maritime cuisine. Among the star dishes are spaghetti with sardines and grilled anchovies (alici scottadito), accompanied by mineral water, a glass of wine, and coffee. An accessible gastronomic proposal that tells the identity of the territory through the humble fish of the Adriatic Sea.
A Growing Tradition
Over the years, the Settimana del Pesce Azzurro has expanded the network of participating restaurants, involving eateries in the historic center of Ancona, the port area, the Passetto district, and Falconara Marittima, in the province of Ancona. This has created a culinary journey that traverses the 'doric' city, from historic villages to seaside terraces, inviting locals and visitors alike to rediscover a simple and authentic gastronomic heritage.
Why Participate
- Discover traditional Ancona maritime cuisine at an accessible price.
- Support a cardiovascular prevention initiative promoted by doctors and cardiologists.
- Promote the Adriatic oily fish supply chain and local fishermen.
- Experience the historic center, port, and seaside areas of Ancona and Falconara from a gastronomic perspective.
Settimana del Pesce Azzurro — edition 2026
From June 8 to 13, 2026, the Settimana del Pesce Azzurro returns to Ancona and Falconara Marittima, the initiative that combines good food with heart health. This year, there are thirteen participating restaurants, offering a menu based on Adriatic oily fish at the recommended price of 25 euros.
The 2026 edition confirms the formula that has made the event popular: traditional dishes of Ancona's maritime cuisine at a fixed price to raise public awareness of the benefits of oily fish, rich in Omega-3 and valuable in preventing cardiovascular diseases. The event is promoted by CuoreVivo ONLUS in collaboration with INRCA, the Ancona Fishermen's Association, CNA, and Sanidoc.
Programme Settimana del Pesce Azzurro 2026
The 2026 Menu
The thirteen participating restaurants offer the same themed menu at the recommended price of 25 euros per person:
- Spaghetti with sardines
- Grilled anchovies (alici scottadito)
- A 0.5-liter bottle of mineral water
- A glass of wine
- Coffee
Participating Restaurants in Ancona
- Bar Giuliani — Corso Garibaldi
- Il Pincio — Borgo Rodi
- La Bitta — port
- La Botte — Via Tavernelle
- La Cantineta — Via Gramsci
- La Mezza Luna — Via Oberdan
- Osteria del Pozzo — Via Bonda
- Osteria del Pinocchio — Via del Pinocchio
- Ristorante L'Ascensore — at the Passetto
- Trattoria del Piano — Piazza d'Armi
- Zenzero — Via Villafranca
Participating Restaurants in Falconara Marittima
- Nero di Seppia — underpass of Via Mameli, on the beach
- Hostaria da Bacco — Via Buozzi 9
Reservations are recommended at the participating establishments.
Highlights Settimana del Pesce Azzurro 2026
Prices Settimana del Pesce Azzurro 2026
Practical information — Settimana del Pesce Azzurro
When
The Settimana del Pesce Azzurro usually takes place at the beginning of June, for six days, in the participating restaurants of Ancona and Falconara Marittima.
Where
In the restaurants that join the initiative, located in the historic center of Ancona, at the port, in the Passetto district, and in Falconara Marittima (province of Ancona, Marche region).
How to Participate
The dedicated menu can be requested directly at the participating restaurants. Reservations are recommended. For information: CuoreVivo ONLUS, tel. +39 071 8003374 (Wednesdays 10 AM-12 PM), www.cuorevivo.org.
How to Get There
Ancona is reachable by train (central station on the Adriatic line), by car via the A14 motorway (exits Ancona Nord and Ancona Sud), and by plane from Ancona-Falconara Airport. Falconara Marittima is a few kilometers from the provincial capital.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Settimana del Pesce Azzurro
Ristoranti aderenti di Ancona e Falconara Marittima