Parco Naturale Regionale Sirente-Velino

It is a very ancient celebration, dating back to about four centuries ago, linked to a popular legend: following a serious plague that killed the local population, the inhabitants of Rocca di Mezzo made a vow to the Madonna della Pietà of tracing straight furrows all night long, so as to remove the pestilence. This ritual takes place every year, on the night between Saturday and the last Sunday of August, where teams of ploughs and diggers try to trace the straightest furrow and to win, thanks to a special jury. The ritual is present in other places in Abruzzo, but only at Rocca di Mezzo, the race takes place at night.