Stupor Montium – Monti Dauni Festival of Wonder

A festival born to amaze the Monti Dauni

Stupor Montium – Monti Dauni Festival of Wonder was born in April 2026 in Castelluccio Valmaggiore, a small town in the Province of Foggia perched among the woods of the Monti Dauni, the sub-Apennine range marking the western border of Puglia. The festival aims to become the first major permanent cultural format for the inland area: not just a simple calendar of events, but a unique narrative that combines entertainment, science, traditions, tourism, and gastronomy to transform wonder into territorial identity.

Four days, four languages

The festival unfolds through four interconnected events, each dedicated to a different way of telling the story of the territory. It begins with the Gala of Wonder, the opening night at the "Casa Parco" Theatre, followed by the Tasting of Wonder featuring great masters of Daunian cuisine, the Tour of Wonder through the ancient village and mountain paths, and finally The Wonder of the Stars, a day dedicated to astronomy and science.

• Entertainment and magic: artistic direction is entrusted to Danilo Audiello, known as Alexis Arts, a world-renowned illusionist.
• Haute cuisine: chefs and culinary experts tell the story of the Monti Dauni through their dishes.
• Nature and traditions: trekking in the village, flag-wavers, and falconry at the CAI refuge.
• Science and the sky: conferences and astronomical observation in the main square.

A community project

Stupor Montium is supported by the Puglia Region and Puglia Culture, with the involvement of GAL Meridaunia, the Municipality of Castelluccio Valmaggiore, the Gargano Slow Consortium, and the APS Stupor Mundi. The underlying idea is to offer a replicable format capable of revitalizing the small villages of the Monti Dauni and refocusing attention on an often-overlooked hinterland, yet one rich in history, landscapes, and knowledge. As the organizers emphasized, it is "a place to rediscover oneself," where wonder becomes a tool for the rebirth of an entire community.

Castelluccio Valmaggiore and the Monti Dauni

With only a few hundred inhabitants, Castelluccio Valmaggiore is one of the most evocative villages in the inland Capitanata area. The festival aims to highlight this intimate dimension: the squares, the municipal theatre, the gym transformed into a tasting room, and the paths leading up to the mountains become the natural stages for an event that seeks to rediscover the slow pace and wonder of the Monti Dauni.