The Village of Wishes

A night of wishes under the shooting stars

The Village of Wishes is a national initiative promoted by the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy Association, which, on the night of St. Lawrence (August 10th), simultaneously involves numerous villages across the peninsula. In Abbateggio, a small town of just over four hundred inhabitants in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo, the event turns the historic center into an enchanted place where, from sunset to dawn, locals and visitors can entrust their wishes to the starry sky.

How the evening unfolds

During the most evocative night of the summer, the small squares, ancient fountains, and local white stone-paved alleys become guardians of dreams and hopes. In every participating village, you can write down your wish and leave it in a special spot designated by the administration: a well, a fountain, or a secret garden. It is a simple and poetic collective ritual that unites the popular tradition of shooting stars with a slow, nocturnal rediscovery of the village.

Abbateggio, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy

Perched at an altitude of about 450 meters on a rocky spur overlooking the valley, Abbateggio is part of the prestigious 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' circuit and rises on the northern slopes of the Majella National Park. Its ancient core is a tangle of stone houses, stairways, and arches. It is no coincidence that the festival falls on August 10th: Saint Lawrence the Martyr is the patron saint of Abbateggio, celebrated in the church dedicated to him, which preserves a 15th-century portal and a characteristic bell tower with a local stone staircase.

Between nature, stone, and archaeology

Those visiting Abbateggio for The Village of Wishes can take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area: the tholos, ancient dry-stone huts built by shepherds and farmers, of which the Majella preserves hundreds of examples; the evocative Valle Giumentina, a site of great prehistoric interest; and the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Elcina, overlooking a panorama that stretches from the Gran Sasso to the Adriatic Sea. Spelt, cultivated since ancient times, is the town's most iconic local product.

A widespread event with free admission

Participation in the initiative is free and open to everyone. The Village of Wishes is part of a calendar of widespread events through which the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' Association promotes small historic centers, alongside appointments like the Romantic Night in June. In Abbateggio, it represents an invitation to experience the Abruzzo mountains in an intimate, nocturnal setting, amidst silence, starry skies, and whispered wishes.