Transhumance Festival in Pescara: boosting the tratturi UNESCO bid

Transhumance Festival in Pescara: relaunching the tratturi UNESCO bid

The Transhumance Festival in Pescara highlights the tratturi (ancient droving routes) and local pastoral traditions, supporting their nomination for UNESCO recognition. The initiative unfolds over two main days with widespread activities, many of them free, aimed at showcasing skills, crafts and cultural practices linked to transhumance.

Program

• 9 May 2026 – Opening of the exhibition "Popoli e terre della lana" at the Polo bibliotecario Aternino (free visits until 16 May); screening of the film Una storia lenta by Alessio Tessitore; start of workshops on traditional shepherding crafts.
• Ongoing activities – Workshops at the Museum of the People of Abruzzo; readings and performances that highlight oral memory and textile practices.
• 9 May evening – Shepherd's dinner with typical dishes, Abruzzese folk music and a DJ set.
• 16 May 2026 – Presentation of the book Pastorizia e transumanza. Radici e protagonisti by Nino Marinacci; closing performance by the Saltarello popular orchestra in Piazza Garibaldi at 21:00.

Why attend

The tratturi nomination aims to acknowledge both the tangible landscape of these ancient routes and the intangible heritage they carry: pastoral techniques, textile crafts, rituals and local knowledge. The festival offers a practical platform to learn about these traditions and to discuss their cultural and landscape value.

Practical information

• Admission: most events are free.
• Venues: Polo bibliotecario Aternino, Museum of the People of Abruzzo, Piazza Garibaldi and public spaces in Pescara.
• Tip: check the local schedule for exact times and possible reservations.
• Location: Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, Pescara (PE). Coordinates: 42.4615811, 14.2106739.

The festival is a concrete opportunity to explore traditional pastoral knowledge and to support the international recognition process for the tratturi as cultural heritage.