May 1st (but not only) time of Teramo virtues, here are our tips on where to eat the best ones – Daily Virtues

TERAMO – Every year, May 1st brings with it an ancient ritual that resonates in the streets and homes of the province of Teramo, bringing back to life a culinary tradition that has its roots in the past. Beyond the recipes and technical details, there is a profound essence and intrinsic symbolism that surround the main dish of Teramo cuisine: the virtues.

Consumed with joy and solemnity on May 1st, they represent an ancient rite, a homage to the goddess Maja and a wish for the fertility of the land and the abundance of the harvest. Legend has it that the virtues take their name from an ancient ritual: seven virgins prepared the dish using seven legumes, seven herbs, seven types of meat, seven seasonal vegetables and seven varieties of pasta, all cooked in seven hours. This magical number, seven, represents the seven Christian virtues, giving the dish a profound symbolic meaning.

But what makes virtues so special? Perhaps it is their unique character, given by over fifty different ingredients, or perhaps it is the deep connection with family traditions, handed down from generation to generation. What is certain is that preparing the virtues requires time, patience and skill, so much so that their rich and complex taste is appreciated by anyone lucky enough to taste them.

To preserve the authenticity of this traditional recipe, a group of experts and restaurateurs from Teramo have developed a specification recognized by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry Policies. This document not only guarantees the quality and integrity of the virtues, but also protects their history and cultural significance.

But May 1st is not just a culinary festival, it is a moment of reunion and celebration for Teramo families. Remember the past times, when we gathered to prepare the virtues together, sharing tasks and memories. It’s an opportunity to honor those who are no longer here and to celebrate the ties that bind. In short, May 1st is a tribute to history, culture and tradition.

Among the restaurants where in recent years we have tasted the Teramo virtues we have selected 24 in which we believe the experience of the Teramo virtues is worth considering for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a close experience with the Teramo cuisine and traditions. Many of them offer a takeaway service, an excellent solution for enjoying delicacies in the company of family and friends, or even outdoors when the weather permits.

• The Porta Romana Cellar – Corso di Porta Romana, 105 – Teramo
  An old-fashioned trattoria that jealously guards the tradition of Teramo virtues. Its innkeeper, Marcello Schillaci, is responsible for the regulations protecting the recipe.
• Agriturismo Da Lidia – Sardinara hamlet – Teramo
  An almost place of worship for the people of Teramo, where the Teramo-style guitar and the timbale evoke childhood memories.
• The terminus – Via Francesco Crispi, 30 – Teramo
  An unusual restaurant located inside the train station right next to the tracks, born in 1989 where you can taste traditional specialties and in the evening an excellent pizza.
• Hinterland Sustainable Trattoria – Via Vittorio Veneto, 48 – Teramo
  A culinary gem opened a few weeks ago in the centre, where three young partners, already known for having worked in well-known restaurants in the city, offer well-made local cuisine, replicating their grandmother’s recipes with a touch of modernity.
• Central Enoteca – Corso Vincenzo Cerulli, 24/26 – Teramo
  Historic wine shop with quality restaurant that has marked the history of catering in the center of Teramo. Even though it will be closed for May 1st this year, it deserves a mention for its culinary excellence.
• Condito (Ex Cantinone) – Via Ciotti, 5 – Teramo
  Quality barbecue and pizzeria, Condito offers traditional dishes such as mazzarelle and Teramo-style tripe, keeping local traditions alive, open exclusively in the evening, with the exception of special occasions such as May 1st.
• From Gilda – Contrada Specola – Teramo
  Located on the Specola hill overlooking the city, at the Da Gilda restaurant you can find traditional cuisine with modern touches.
• Hotel Zunica 1880 Restaurant – Piazza Filippi Pepe – Civitella del Tronto
  A true culinary excellence with over 140 years of history. The Teramo virtues are prepared with skill and passion, offering an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
• Villa Corallo – Via Metella Nuova, 37 – Sant’Omero
  The restaurant side was taken over by Daniele Zunica, offering the same recipe as the Zunica 1880 Restaurant in Civitella in a new and elegant location.
• Osteria dei Maltagliati – Corso Umberto I, 36 – Torano Nuovo
  A small jewel in the historic center of Torano, where the modern cuisine of the area combines with the style of the tavern, offering a modern version of the classic Teramo virtues.
• L’Arca – Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 109 Alba Adriatica
  Their virtues have a unique imprint inspired by the philosophy of organic Mediterranean cuisine. For years, the chef has been committed to promoting this vision through a mix of delicious flavors and health benefits. His concept of cooking was documented in the book Bio Mediterranean Cuisine.
• Three Arches – Via Antica Salara, 25 – Guardia Vomano di Notaresco
  For over fifty years, this historic restaurant, founded way back in 1969, has narrated the history of the area through its genuine and traditional cuisine, keeping the tradition alive for generations.
• Osteria degli Ulivi – Via Fornaci – Montorio al Vomano
  It offers a journey into the authentic flavors of good cuisine, with strong flavors and elegance. The Teramo virtues are a true gastronomic masterpiece, prepared with care and skill.
• Country House Lo Scoiattolo – Cusciano hamlet – Montorio al Vomano
  The highest restaurant in the non-mountain province of Teramo offers traditional cuisine without frills, genuine and succulent with a unique panorama from Montorio to the sea.
• Locanda San Michele – Contrada Camerale – Montorio al Vomano
  He prepares the virtues according to tradition and includes them as an off-menu dish. Offering gourmet cuisine of great taste and elegance, the chef has worked alongside Heinz Beck, 3 Michelin stars, for several years.
• The Amphora – Via Nazionale, 194 – Basciano
  Surrounded by greenery with a lake in front and a large garden, L’Anfora offers local cuisine that is sometimes revisited, offering an interesting culinary experience.
• Per Voglia – Strada 24 Maggio, 25 – Castelbasso di Castellalto
  A small jewel set in the charming village of Castelbasso, it offers well-crafted local cuisine with a modern twist.
• Podere Marcantò Restaurant – SS80, 26 – Mosciano Sant’Angelo
  Close to the motorway junction, an elegant location that offers well-made land cuisine with refined ingredients and workmanship.
• Borgo Spoltino – Sant’Angelo district Selva Alta – Mosciano Sant’Angelo
  Here, the culinary experience merges with the beauty of nature, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere.
• Zenobi Restaurant – Via degli Ulivi, 49 – Colonnella
  Historic and noble establishment that offers authentic and genuine cuisine, made with skill and passion according to the ancient Abruzzo traditions, primarily Nereto-style goat.
• From Gianfranco – Via delle Orchidee, 5 – Alba Adriatica
  It offers tasty land and cod cuisine in a welcoming and elegant place a stone’s throw from the sea.
• Bistrot24 – Via G. Di Giorgio, 5/7 – Roseto degli Abruzzi
  It offers a very refined and elegant land-based culinary experience, with the possibility of also enjoying excellent cod-based dishes.
• Bacucco D’Oro Restaurant – Via del Pozzo, 8 Mutignano di Pineto
  It offers an authentic and genuine culinary experience, care and research of raw materials, passion, making each dish an excellence.

The Teramo virtues, whose interpretations that go beyond traditional patterns have given rise to various controversies over the years, are also used with fish by restaurants that offer seafood cuisine. This is because, the restaurateurs themselves say, the demand for “Fish Virtues” has grown over the years, inducing them to create different variations which generally include vegetable ingredients, legumes, fish, crustaceans and molluscs, responding to the customer’s desire. We have selected six of them.

• La Granseola – Via Vittorio Veneto, 25 – Teramo
  A restaurant that introduced the seafaring tradition to the center of Teramo, offering classic, high-quality cuisine that has become a point of reference in the city.
• Cipria di Mare – Via Luigi Badia, 30 – Teramo
  Located in the train station area, this place has adopted a more modern and elaborate cuisine. In addition to the virtues inspired by the sea, it also offers the classic take-away options.
• Conchiglia d’Oro – Via Nazionale Adriatica Nord – Pineto
  This restaurant in Pineto offers excellent all-round seafood cuisine, in an elegant and refined environment.
• Manetta – Via Somalia, 15 – Roseto degli Abruzzi
  In Roseto degli Abruzzi, this restaurant is famous for its quality and its modern approach to seafood cuisine.
• Elite seafood cuisine & Boutique Hotel – Via Makarska, 50 – Roseto degli Abruzzi
  With a young and dynamic staff, all under the age of 30, Élite stands out for its unique culinary offering, which takes inspiration from the seasons of the sea with a mountain heart. The cuisine, refined and with bold flavours, stands out for its elegance and originality.
• Il Palmizio – Via Guglielmo Marconi, 160 – Alba Adriatica
  This excellent seafood restaurant is very attentive to the valorisation and research of high quality recipes and raw materials. offers a “Homage to the Virtues”, a soup that celebrates the first fruits of the sea and the field.

Finally, outside Abruzzo, how can we not mention the Dalla Gioconda Restaurant * in Via dell’Orizzonte n. 2 in Gabicce monte (Pesaro Urbino). The chef’s Teramo roots Davide Di Fabio, born in Rho but raised in Bellante, are the beating heart of his cuisine, as demonstrated by the innovative dish called Zuppiera. Inspired by the traditional virtues of Teramo, Di Fabio created a dish that celebrates the rebirth of spring. The Zuppiera sees seven different varieties of pasta cooked together in a fish broth, accompanied by a selection of raw fish, varied based on seasonal availability. Everything is enriched with a mussel sauce, a mantis shrimp sauce, cuttlefish livers and parsley, creating a play of textures and temperatures that evokes memories of tradition, but also of innovation and sustainability. Just one year after its opening, it received the prestigious recognition of the Michelin star, followed by the green star. His career was shaped by 17 years of experience in the kitchen at Osteria Francescana, before emerging as head chef at Dalla Gioconda.

Whether you are a fan of tradition or a curious gourmet, these restaurants offer a wide variety of options to satisfy every palate and guarantee an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of Abruzzo.