In the Navelli Plain there is a treasure hidden in the heart of a flower: it is L’Aquila Saffron whose Protected Designation of Origin celebrates 20 years of recognition this year.
From Sept. 5 to Sept. 19, this important anniversary sees several initiatives in the field promoted by the Gran Sasso Velino Local Action Group (LAG) in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region, the Gran Sasso Chamber of Commerce and the Cassa di Risparmio dell’Aquila Foundation:
SEPTEMBER 5 – At 5:30 p.m. in Piazza San Pelino in Navelli, the seminar “L’Aquila Saffron PDO: 20 years of history, culture and identity.”
SEPTEMBER 9 and 12 – at 6:30 p.m. in the towns of San Pio delle Camere and Barisciano , respectively, two cooking demonstrations with chefs of national importance.
SEPTEMBER 19–At 3:30 p.m. in L’Aquila in the Ipogea room of the Palazzo dell’Emiciclo, seat of the Abruzzo Regional Council, the conference “Red Gold of Abruzzo: PDO excellence between tradition and future.”
SAFFRON – It was introduced by a Dominican monk belonging to the Santucci family who brought it to Italy for the first time and right to Navelli in the 12th century. This spice is obtained from the stigmas of the Crocus flower, and in the plain on the outskirts of L’Aquila it found an ideal habitat. The climatic and soil conditions led to obtaining a product of the highest quality, making it over the centuries one of the most prized spices in Europe brought by merchants as far as Venice and even further up to Germany. Protected by PDO, today L’Aquila Saffron is both fine agriculture and a cultural symbol of the L’Aquila area.
