Introduction
The Parco Nazionale del Pollino is Italy's largest national park, home to villages where time stands still.
The area boasts 3 protected-designation products and 4 dishes of the local tradition and 2 UNESCO heritage sites.
Upcoming Events & Festivals
Here are the upcoming events in Pollino:
Recurring Events
These events take place every year in Pollino:
Sagra dell'Abete (Festa della Pita)
8-13 giugnoRotonda
Rito arboreo di origine celtica: "matrimonio" tra faggio e abete.
Sagra del Bianco e del Rosso
Fine agostoRotonda
Fagiolo Bianco DOP e Melanzana Rossa DOP.
U Strittul ru Zafaran
9-11 agostoSenise · ~23a edizione
Peperone crusco IGP di Senise.
PDO, PGI and local products
The protected-designation products of Pollino represent the excellence of the area:
What to eat in Pollino
Dried Senise peppers fried in oil, crispy and full of flavor.
Hand-made pasta with crumbled dried peppers and breadcrumbs.
Traditional soup made with DOP white beans from Rotonda.
Wide homemade pasta with chickpeas, dressed with Pollino oil.
Traditions & Culture
Pre-Christian rituals of "tree marriages", similar to European May Day celebrations.
Traditional Albanian costumes and Greek-Orthodox rituals in Arbëreshë communities since the 1500s.
Artisanal production of traditional Albanian costumes.
UNESCO Heritage
UNESCO Geopark within Italy's largest national park.
Ancient beech forests recognized as humanity's heritage.
Nature Parks & Protected Areas
Italy's most extensive national park (192,565 hectares, 56 municipalities).
Historical Figures
His resistance against the Ottoman Turks led to the Arbëreshë exodus toward Southern Italy.
Confined in Aliano, where he wrote "Cristo si è fermato a Eboli" (Christ Stopped at Eboli).
Local Communities
The festivals and events in Pollino are organized by Pro Loco associations and local groups that safeguard the area's traditions:
Rotonda
Organizzano la Sagra dell'Abete (Festa della Pita) e la Sagra del Bianco e del Rosso, celebrando i prodotti DOP locali.
Senise
Promotori del Peperone Crusco IGP, organizzano U Strittul ru Zafaran e preservano la tradizione dell'essiccazione al sole.
Civita
Preservano le tradizioni della comunità albanese del Pollino, con costumi, lingua e rito greco-ortodosso dal XV secolo.
Curiosities
“The Pino Loricato "Italus" is 1,230 years old, one of Europe's oldest trees.”
“Pollino is Italy's largest national park (192,565 hectares, 56 municipalities).”
“The Pino Loricato grows spontaneously in Italy only in Pollino.”
“Serra Dolcedorme (2,267 m) is the highest peak in the southern Apennines.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1Which PDO and PGI products are found in Pollino?expand_more
Pollino is home to 3 protected designation products, including: Melanzana Rossa di Rotonda (DOP), Fagiolo Bianco di Rotonda (DOP), and Peperone di Senise (IGP).
2What should I eat in Pollino?expand_more
Typical Pollino dishes include: Peperoni cruschi fritti, Strascinati con peperoni cruschi, Zuppa di fagioli bianchi, and Lagane e ceci. Each dish tells the story of the territory's culinary heritage.
3What UNESCO heritage sites are in Pollino?expand_more
Pollino is home to 2 UNESCO sites: Pollino UNESCO Global Geopark (Natural, 2015) and Faggeta vetusta di Cozzo Ferriero (Natural, 2017).
4What are the most famous festivals in Pollino?expand_more
Among the most important festivals and events in Pollino are: Sagra dell'Abete (Festa della Pita) (Rotonda, June 8-13); Sagra del Bianco e del Rosso (Rotonda, late August); U Strittul ru Zafaran (Senise, August 9-11).
5What natural parks are in Pollino?expand_more
Protected natural areas in Pollino include: Parco Nazionale del Pollino (National Park).
6Who organizes the festivals in Pollino?expand_more
Festivals in Pollino are organized by local communities such as Pro Loco Rotonda, Pro Loco Senise, and Associazione Arbereshe Civita. These Pro Loco organizations and associations are guardians of the territory's culinary traditions.