Foods, Facts & Festivals

Saffron in Abruzzo
Next time you order risotto alla milanese in Italy, the saffron or "zafferano" you are eating is most likely from the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy. The plains of Navelli in the l'Aquila province are home to this delicate spice.

Saffron is obtained from the stigmas of the violet-coloured crocus sativus flower and grow to around 12-15 cm tall. It has been cultivated in Navelli since the 14th Century, when a local Dominican monk brought back a number of these plants from Spain to experiment with their cultivation on his family's estate. The terrain in Navelli- at 800 meters above sea level,a dry climate and fertile fields not too high in clay content- make it an ideal habitat for saffron cultivation.

Saffron was used to dye fabrics and hair and its additional curative powers have long been known to help digestion, rheumatism and colds.
The area of cultivation in Abruzzo is strictly limited to 8 hectares of land. A sad reduction from the 430 hectares cultivated at the turn of the last century.
Harvesting this precious spice occurs in autumn towards the end of October and into early November where the stigmas are harvested by hand before sunrise, that is, before the flowers open up, so all of their aromas are still sealed within. 200 flowers are needed to obtain one gram of fresh stigmas! The flowers are opened one by one and the stigmas are removed by hand and then slowly desiccated on the warm ash of the domestic fireplaces on the very same day. The saffron is mainly exported to northern Italy and northern European markets.

The Cooperative "Altopiano di Navelli" (Navelli Highland) was formed in 1971 and represents 40 farmers who cultivate saffron over the 8 hectares.
You too can experience the pleasure of visiting this beautiful and unspoilt region of Abruzzo - savour the regional dishes with local ingredients such as "spaghetti alla chitarra with saffron and truffle" and take part in the time honoured traditions and festivities. On our Medieval Magic of Abruzzo Tour we experience the pleasure of meeting a saffron producer and he will take us through all the stages of production and tasting!

The Vespa Scooter and La Dolce Vita.
Did you know that the Vespa motorscooter was designed by an engineer from Abruzzo? Corradino D'Ascanio was born in Popoli in the Pescara province and worked initially as an aircraft engineer designing bombers and helicopters in the 1920's. It wasn't until 1946 when he was working with Enrico Piaggio that the phenomenon of the scooter was born. Thanks to Ascanio, the Vespa represented a major economical breakthrough for post war Italy and became an accessible means of transport for the average family in Italy. It achieved such international fame with the 1953 film "Roman Holiday" starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn that by 1956, one million Vespas were produced.
Today the Vespa remains as an iconic symbol of Italy depicted in films, novels and publicity campaigns worldwide.
In the Medieval Magic of Abruzzo Tour we do visit the Popoli area and there are often exhibitions in summer dedicated to the hero of Popoli, Corradino D'Ascanio.

Traditional Feast of Saint Anthony
Every January 16 in Fara Filorum Petri, a small village in Abruzzo - the miracle of Saint Anthony Abbott is relived. He is remembered for the expulsion of the advancing French army of 1799.
Each hamlet of the village creates a "farchia"- enormous columns of reed cane which are bound together tightly and then paraded through the village and brought all together in the main piazza. The heavy columns are hauled up by many men and then set fire to. Many are filled with fireworks also, so a spectacular scene to behold in the bitter cold night of January on the edge of the Maiella National Park.
I was fortunate enough to be part of the festivities one cold winter. The festa started weeks before at each hamlet preparing the 'farchia' - the locals gather to eat and drink wonderfully prepared food by the team of Abruzzese women, songs and praises to Saint Anthony would be sung throughout the evening.
On the final evening of the burning of the 'farchie' thousands of Italians fill the piazza. After the long procession, the singing, the praying, the grand finale spectacular of the burning and fireworks follows. The columns are thought to symbolise the oak forest that Saint Anthony's presence turned into troops to repel the French army of 1799.