I love market day in Abruzzo. There’s always a buzz of excitement as people weave in and out around the stalls looking for bargains and fresh produce from their favourite dealer. You can get practically anything you want at the markets, vegetables, meat, pots, pans, clothes, cleaning aids, hats, shoes, irons and pasta boards. My sister-in-law bought a set of curtains that hang in her spare bedroom. I get to see them every time I stay over.
You could probably spend everyday (except perhaps Sunday) at a market in some regions as it is often occurs on a different day of the week in different towns. In Atri it’s Monday, in Penne it’s Saturday and in Loreto Aprutino it’s Thursday. These towns are all within easy reach of each other so depending on where you’re based you could easily visit three markets a week. Now that’s a bit too frequentfor me as you do see similar goods on sale.
Markets are important parts of day to day life in Italy. People come into town from surrounding areas, look around, meet friends and get together for a coffee, a campari or even a glass of prosecco. I prefer when the market stalls are based in a piazza instead of the main streets. In a piazza, if you position yourself outside a bar or cafe you can get a great view of one of the most important social and commercial events in Italian life.
Some towns have a special annual market. I was in Pineto for their annual August market on 2nd August. I think it was the biggest one I’ve ever seen. The entire centre of the town was closed off and people were selling practically everything you could think of. I even saw native Anerican word carvings!
The one item you can be certain you’ll find at an Abruzzo market is the porchetta van. Slow roasted pork on a spit is a treat not to be missed. If you’re feeling peckish a porchetta and some bread will definitely hold back the hunger.
I love market day in Abruzzo. There’s always a buzz of excitement as people weave in and out around the stalls looking for bargains and fresh produce from their favourite dealer. You can get practically anything you want at the markets: vegetables, fruit, meat, pots, pans, clothes, cleaning aids, hats, shoes, irons and pasta boards. My sister-in-law bought a set of curtains that hang in her spare bedroom. I get to see them every time I stay over.
You could probably spend everyday (except perhaps Sunday) at a market in some Abruzzo region as it often occurs on a different day of the week, in different towns. In Atri it’s Monday, in Penne it’s Saturday and in Loreto Aprutino it’s Thursday. These towns are all within easy reach of each other so depending on where you’re based you could easily visit three markets a week. Now that’s a bit too frequent for me but if you are addicted to markets, why not?
Markets are an important part of day to day life in Italy. People come into town from surrounding areas, look around, meet friends and get together for a coffee, a campari or even a glass of prosecco. I prefer when the market stalls are based in a piazza instead of the main streets. In a piazza, if you position yourself outside a bar or cafe you can get a great view of one of the most important social and commercial events in Italian life.
Some towns have an annual market as part of a festival. This is like a standard market on steroids, taking over the whole town, with a marching band thrown in for that special Fellini moment. Last week, on 2nd August, I was in Pineto for their annual August Festival. I think it was the biggest market I’ve ever seen. The entire centre of the town was closed off and people were selling practically everything you could think of. I even saw native American wo0d carvings!
The one item you can be certain you’ll find at an Abruzzo market is the porchetta van. Slow roasted pork on a spit is a treat not to be missed. If you’re feeling peckish porchetta and some bread will definitely hold back the hunger.
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