By Roberta Tullii

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.

COST PER PERSON

Free

EXPERIENCE DATE

Saturday 14 March 2026

EXPERIENCE LOCATION

Castelli (Te)
SEATS AVAILABLE: 8
MUNICIPALITY OF Castelli
LANGUAGE SPOKEN: ITA,ENG, FRA

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
3-hours. From 15:00 to 17:00
Free experience
The walk is limited to a maximum of 8 participants
Hiking shoes; small bags to collect wild garlic leaves

INFO AND BOOKING

CONTACT DIRECTLY THE WORKSHOP ORGANIZER

BAMBUN APS, associazione.bambun@gmail.com Tel. 3895177227

Roberta Tullii

Roberta Tullii is a versatile educator whose work ranges from classrooms to fields and forests. She is a recognised reference in Abruzzo for ethnobotany and the traditional use of wild edible plants. Born and raised in a small rural village in Abruzzo, she developed from an early age a deep connection with trees, plants and flowers. Over time, this playful interaction evolved into curiosity, wonder and knowledge. She later discovered that wild plants are not only edible but also carriers of stories linked to myths and legends, with properties that support health and well-being. She regularly attends training courses on the identification and processing of wild and aromatic plants, combining an empirical approach with the preservation of traditional gestures and seasonal rituals. For around ten years, she has been part of the international network CASA DELLE ERBE, a project dedicated to the study of wild plants for self-consumption and their historical uses. Drawing on solid pedagogical training and years of experience, she is committed to transmitting botanical knowledge through experiential education initiatives, workshops on plant cataloguing and preservation, and activities aimed at revitalising local communities through the rediscovery and reinterpretation of practices and rituals connected to forests and waterways. She collaborates with farms, environmental reserves and forest schools in the region, designing pathways for recognising wild plants, including for children and people in vulnerable situations, and acting as a mediator to restore the relationship between humans and nature.