Wheat Festival

A festival born from wheat

In the heart of the Monti Dauni, overlooked by the famous Cathedral with its grand eleven-spoke rose window, the town of Troia (Province of Foggia, Puglia) dedicates a summer day to the memory of its rural civilization. The Wheat Festival, established in 2012, celebrates the end of the harvest in a land that has thrived on cereal crops for centuries: the Capitanata region is one of Italy's primary grain-producing areas, and the festival aims to recover and showcase the customs, tools, and flavors of that rural world.

The Guinness-record Acquasale

The undisputed symbol of the event is the Guinness-record Acquasale: a massive serpentone (snake) of stale soaked bread, seasoned with tomatoes, onions, salt, oil, and oregano, set up along Via Regina Margherita and offered for free to residents and visitors (including a gluten-free version). Prepared by local merchants and grain companies, it grows longer every year: from 56 meters in the first edition to over a hundred meters in recent years, turning the entire street into one giant, communal table.

Themed squares

For one day, the historic center of Troia steps back in time. The squares are filled with ancient tools and grain-processing techniques, displays reconstructing rural customs, photography exhibitions, and book presentations. There are also free guided tours of the city's history and its Cathedral, vintage games, and workshops for children, while wandering musicians accompany the public through the alleys.

Wheat in the Window and evening music

Among the most anticipated events is the "Wheat in the Window" contest, which rewards local businesses for the most creative displays made with wheat ears, sheaves, baskets, and grain arrangements. The day concludes with live music: concerts by groups tied to Puglian folk traditions and the pizzica dance animate the squares until late, in a festive atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors, including international tourists, every year.

An identity-driven event

Organized by the Municipality of Troia together with the Pro Loco, the Museum of Living Rural Civilization, and local associations, the Wheat Festival is now one of the main cultural, identity-focused, and tourism-promotion tools for the Troia community, included in the rich calendar of the Troia Summer.