Wild garlic (Allium ursinum), also known as “ramsons” or “wood garlic”, emerges after a long period of underground dormancy to herald the arrival of spring. Widely used in European culinary traditions, it was already valued by pre-Roman societies for its healing and invigorating properties. The Celts and Romans referred to it as herba salutaris, and Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides mention it as a remedy against snake bites. As its name suggests, wild garlic is associated with the proverbial strength of the bear, an animal that consumes it in large quantities to regain energy after hibernation and with which it shares a strong symbolic connection.
In both Apennine and Alpine cultures, the plant and the animal represent not only strength, but also purification, renewal and fertility. In European folklore, wild garlic is linked to various legends: it is said to have sprung from the devil’s footprints and to offer protection against vampires; when woven into necklaces and worn around the neck, it is believed to possess magical properties, such as calling upon spirits or acting as a remedy against negative influences. In Abruzzo, wild garlic necklaces were traditionally used to treat intestinal worms in children. Today, it is widely used in phytotherapy thanks to its high content of vitamins and antioxidants, and it is currently being rediscovered within the context of gastronomic tourism.
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This experience offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Abruzzese spring in a unique way: a guided walk through the woodlands of Castelli to gather wild garlic and learn about its culinary uses. Accompanied by an expert in wild herbs and a scholar of human–forest relationships, participants will explore shaded forest paths where this fragrant and beneficial plant carpets the undergrowth from March to April. Participants will learn how to harvest only the largest leaves, respecting the environment and allowing the plant to regenerate, while listening to insights on ethnobotany, plant identification, ecology and culinary uses of this remarkable green resource.
Programme:
- Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato, Castelli
- Introduction to wild herbs typical of the foothills of the Gran Sasso
- Walk and wild garlic foraging






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