Voltigno Horse Transhumance and Shepherd's Sdijuno
The ancient rite of seasonal mountain grazing in the Gran Sasso pastures
About Voltigno Horse Transhumance
The horse transhumance on the Voltigno plateau
The Voltigno Horse Transhumance and Shepherd's Sdijuno is a traditional pastoral event held in Carpineto della Nora, a small town in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. The event takes participants to the Voltigno plateau, a stunning high-altitude plain within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, to relive one of the oldest customs of pastoral civilization: monticazione, the seasonal ascent of livestock from valley pastures to summer mountain grazing lands.
A rite rooted in prehistory
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of herds along paths passed down through generations. In Abruzzo, this practice has ancient origins linked to tratturi—the great grassy tracks that connected mountains to plains, shaping the landscape and community life for centuries. At Voltigno, alongside other famous high-altitude pastures like Campo Imperatore, horses resume their journey to the mountain meadows every year, accompanied by shepherds and those eager to discover this living heritage.
The Shepherd's Sdijuno
The most anticipated moment of the day is the Sdijuno, an Abruzzese dialect term for the first meal after the nightly fast. After hours of walking, shepherds welcome participants to the plain with a genuine farmers' breakfast: homemade bread, mountain pecorino cheese, traditional cured meats, local wine, and other typical pastoral products. This is not a staged performance, but an authentic immersion: observe the shepherds at work, listen to their stories of life in the mountains, and share a moment of simple, genuine conviviality.
An experience in the heart of the Park
The day combines hiking, nature, and tradition. Starting from Carpineto della Nora, you will traverse historic trails to reach the Voltigno plateau, surrounded by the vistas of the Gran Sasso. The initiative is organized by Wolftour Discover Abruzzo in partnership with ASD Valle Nora and traditionally takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn, following the cycle of seasonal migration. Booking is mandatory to ensure hospitality and the lunch with the shepherds.
Why participate
- Experience the ancient rite of horse transhumance firsthand
- Walk across the Voltigno plateau in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park
- Enjoy the 'sdijuno', the traditional breakfast of Abruzzo shepherds
- Discover the pastoral culture of Carpineto della Nora and the Abruzzo hinterland
Voltigno Horse Transhumance — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Voltigno Horse Transhumance was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, on Republic Day, in Carpineto della Nora (PE). The day began at 8:00 AM with the meeting and registration of participants in the village; at 8:30 AM, the arrival of the transhumance in the Tricalle area was accompanied by a savory breakfast. The march along historic trails, which started at 9:00 AM, was followed at 12:30 PM by the shepherd's sdijuno on the Voltigno plain, featuring homemade bread, mountain pecorino, traditional cured meats, and local wine.
Programme Voltigno Horse Transhumance 2026
- 08:00 — Meeting and registration of participants in Carpineto della Nora
- 08:30 — Arrival of the transhumance in the Tricalle area with savory breakfast
- 09:00 — Start of the transhumance along historic trails
- 12:30 — Arrival on the Voltigno plain and Shepherd's Sdijuno
Highlights Voltigno Horse Transhumance 2026
Prices Voltigno Horse Transhumance 2026
Practical information — Voltigno Horse Transhumance
How to get there
Carpineto della Nora (PE) can be reached by car via the A25 motorway, taking the Bussi/Popoli exit and continuing towards the Pescara Valley and the hinterland. The meeting point is in the town center; from there, the group transfers to the Tricalle area and the Voltigno plateau.
Booking and information
Booking is mandatory through Wolftour Discover Abruzzo: phone and WhatsApp +39 085 8278444, email [email protected], website wolftour.it.
Tips
Wear trekking shoes and layered clothing suitable for mountain environments. The excursion is family-friendly, with reduced rates for teenagers and children.
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 — Voltigno Horse Transhumance
Altopiano del Voltigno