The perfect atmosphere to experience the joys of local specialties
By Emily Tassone
I had the pleasure of attending Atrani’s Festa del Pesce Azzurro (Blue Fish Festival) on the 24th and 25th August with a my friend Adam visiting from Australia. In its 41st year, the festival is a celebration of one of the town’s specialities, anchovies.
The Festa del Pesce Azzurro is one of the many food festivals, or sagre, that are common all across Italy. They are a very tasty and fun way to experience local specialties that vary from town to town and village to village.
The tiny town of Atrani, Italy’s smallest commune, prepares for the festivities by covering the town in fishing nets, hanging from balconies and draping from one corner of the piazza (the town’s main square) to the other. There is also beautifully coloured little fishing boats set up in the piazza and at random spots throughout the town to add to the atmosphere.
Adam and I start with a few spritz at the local bar, La Risacca in the piazza before lining up to purchase our 17 euro ticket which entitles us to 6 food and beverage items. All of the towns 4 restaurants (Le Arcate, Le Palme, Mistral and A Paranza) are involved; each preparing a special dish based of course on fish, predominately anchovies.
We commence our wander from stand to stand collecting our plates from each restaurant, each one better than the last. Dishes included; fried anchovies, pasta with tuna, and mine and Adam’s favourite, stuffed green squash (which is grown in the area) with fish and mozzarella, baked in a tomato based sauce – yum!
Lining up with our little vouchers and upon collecting our dishes, standing around communal tables and eating with the locals is lots of fun. Our fourth stop is by the wine stand to collect a glass of local wine, white of course, to help wash down the local delicacies. Our last stop is at local bar, Bar Birecto where Marco is busy serving out lemon sorbet, the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
Then it’s back at La Risacca for Adam and I as we sip on our spritz while listening to the music and taking in the atmosphere of a bustling little piazza filled with laughter and people from surrounding towns enjoying the local cuisine.
Just prior to midnight, the crowds make their way to the beach and to the main road to secure the best vantage point to view the fireworks at midnight. Adam and I sit by the beach and I giggle like a little girl in awe of the spectacular 30 minute firework display from the water. It is a very fitting ending to a gorgeous festival, and one I look forward to attending again next year.
By Emily Tassone from Avanti Italy www.avantiitaly.com
