Sagra degli Arrosticini: Abruzzo’s Juiciest Lamb Skewer Festival You Can’t Miss
Join Abruzzo’s sizzling summer feast in Pianella—arrosticini, wine, music, and dancing under the warm Italian night sky.del post del blog.
ABRUZZOFEASTS&FESTIVALS
Region: Abruzzo
Province / Closest City: Pescara / Pianella
Title: Sagra degli Arrosticini – Lamb Skewers and Vibrant Nights in Abruzzo
Each summer in Abruzzo, the warm air is perfumed with the irresistible scent of lamb sizzling over coals. The Sagra degli Arrosticini is a smoky, music-filled celebration of the region’s most famous street food, inviting both locals and visitors to feast, dance, and savor the magic of Abruzzese evenings.
Origins and Meaning:
Once a humble shepherds’ meal—just lamb skewered and cooked over a fornacella—arrosticini have grown into a culinary emblem of the region. The sagra was created to honor this symbol, bringing together butchers, grill masters, and families to share their skill and cherished recipes.
Event Atmosphere:
Long rows of fornacelle (narrow charcoal grills) fill the festival grounds, each stacked high with skewers. Meat crackles as fat drips onto the coals, sending waves of smoky aroma through the air. People weave through the crowd with paper trays piled with dozens of arrosticini, rustic bread, and pitchers of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine. Folk music plays late into the night, while traditional dances invite everyone—locals and tourists alike—to join in.
What to Expect and How to Join:
The sagra is usually held in late July or early August in towns like Pianella, Villa Celiera, or Civitella Casanova, known as the “homeland” of arrosticini. Entry is free, with food sold at stalls and communal tables set up for shared meals. Portions are famously generous—20 skewers per person is far from unusual!
Address: Piazza Garibaldi, Pianella, Pescara Province (example location)
How to Get There:
By car: From Pescara, follow the SS81 inland toward Pianella; about 20 km (25 minutes).
By public transport: Buses run from Pescara to Pianella several times daily, especially during festival weekends.
Nearby Food & Stay:
Stay at Agriturismo Le Terre d’Abruzzo for a countryside retreat close to the festivities. Besides arrosticini, try scrippelle ‘mbusse (egg crepes in broth) and pecora alla callara (slow-cooked sheep stew).
The Sagra degli Arrosticini is the purest expression of Abruzzo’s love for its signature skewers—smoky, simple, and best enjoyed in good company. Arrive hungry, and you’ll leave with the taste of fire-grilled tradition lingering long after the music fades.