Healthy cooking with Fucino vegetables accompanied by Abruzzese wine and oil: this is the program of "Ortinfesta", 3 days in Alba Fucens, Avezzano, Celano and Tagliacozzo, organized by "Slow food Abruzzo", Arssa (Agenzia regionale di sviluppo agricolo) and Aptr (Azienda di promozione turistica regionale). Aims: emphasize four great places and promote Fucino vegetables through tasty dishes prepared with mastery and imagination.

A botanical center will be soon inaugurated in the building of the former elementary school. This center will offer great information on the flora of the Park, as it happens with the Insect Museum in Bisegna. On the lower floor exposition rooms and on the upper floor a herbary, library and gardening school where local flowers and plants will be grown to be re-introduced into the Park. Open every day, the center will welcome students and visitors.

Physically-impaired 16-year-old Matteo was alone in his mother's car listening to music. Suddenly the brakes gave way, and the car started rushing down Via del Mare, coming to a halt with two wheels in the abyss. Lucia, his mother, is sure something exceptional saved her beloved son, San Gabriele, the patron of Abruzzo and of young people. Matteo suffers from birth of a serious neurologic handicap and is the center of his parents' lives. Music is his greatest passion.

One of the oldest and most deeply-felt religious traditions, Il Dono is a long trail of women carrying gifts from the fields to the Madonna del Ponte, patron of Lanciano. The farmers from each district come after their chief, playing religious songs on ancient musical instruments. Emiliano Giancristofaro, a great folklore scholar, says this is the remnant of an ancient tradition when young girls offered their first embroidery work to the Virgin Mary.

The program of cultural events in eight Vestine towns, Penne, Catignano, Loreto Aprutino, Collecorvino, Elice, Farindola, Villa Celiera and Civitaquana, that opened on 17 August, met great success everywhere: songs, theatre, cabaret, with nationally famous artists attracted a very large public. Great hopes for next year.

Ernani Catena started writing dialect songs at 23, in 1971. This Saturday his works, collected in three volumes, will be presented in the Museo Michetti, Francavilla. A Pisces, he believes in simplicity and the rediscovery of tradition and dialect. His Abruzzese characters are generous, hard workers, emigrants. Family is always present: his brothers left for Germany in the 1960's. His father a carpenter, "teacher of life and humbleness". His grandfather played the trumpet, he studied music in Pescara, had a rock experience, then followed folk music. Four years ago he established his choir: «Nuovo canto popolare della Maiella».

Economist and journalist Marcello De Cecco was awarded the "Frentano d'oro", a prize to all Abruzzese who rose to fame. The prize is a 100gr gold sculpture with a 2000-carat topaz made by goldsmiths Ferrante from Castelfrentano. Marcello De Cecco has studied the instability of contemporary financial circuits.

« previous --- next»