Sfogliatella Night

Sfogliatella Night in Lama dei Peligni

Every year, on the eve of Ferragosto, the small village of Lama dei Peligni, located at the foot of the Majella massif in the heart of the Chieti province, celebrates its signature pastry with the Sfogliatella Night. On August 14th, the historic center transforms into a journey of taste and music: food stalls open in the late afternoon, and the party continues until late at night, animated by roving folk groups, performances, and dancing in the square.

The sfogliatella di Lama, a pastry with a noble history

The star of the evening is the sfogliatella di Lama dei Peligni, a pastry with roots dating back to the early 20th century. According to tradition, it was Donna Anna Di Guglielmo, who married Baron Tabassi, who brought the Neapolitan sfogliatella recipe to the village, reinterpreting it with local Abruzzo ingredients. Long kept as a family secret, the recipe became a popular heritage starting in the 1960s, when the family cook shared it with the local women.

The local version differs from the Neapolitan one in its filling: Montepulciano grape jam, black cherry and peach preserves, cooked grape must, walnuts, dark chocolate, and a touch of coffee, all encased in a thin, hand-worked pastry. The result is a fragrant, soft, and unmistakably delicious treat that has become a gastronomic ambassador for the entire Majella area.

A popular festival of flavors and folklore

Sfogliatella Night is much more than a tasting event: it is a community celebration that fills Piazza Umberto I and the streets of the historic center. Among the stalls, visitors can sample not only the sfogliatella but also other Abruzzo culinary specialties, while live music and roving groups accompany visitors and residents in a festive and convivial atmosphere. The event attracts numerous tourists every year who, drawn by the summer holidays and the proximity of the Majella National Park, choose Lama dei Peligni as a stop for taste and nature.

Lama dei Peligni, a village in the Majella

Located in Abruzzo, in the municipality of Lama dei Peligni, the village is famous not only for its sfogliatella but also for the evocative Grotte del Cavallone and its proximity to the trails of the Majella National Park. Sfogliatella Night, along with the Sfogliatella Festival held in the spring, testifies to the pride with which the community preserves and passes down this noble pastry, now a shared popular tradition.