It is not only a dish of memory, but a symbol of belonging and identity: fried pizza in Alfedena continues to unite generations, telling stories of women, families and territory. Once again this year, amid rain and smiles, hundreds of hands revived a ritual that smacks of love, resilience and community.
The voice of the country that loves you unconditionally, that gave birth to you, adopted you and nursed you to its history and being is recognized among thousands. Only SHE gets you out of bed before the sun rises and tucks you in late at night. No matter how old you are, it matters that you are together in the name of that cord never severed.
Dozens of volunteers and volunteers, yesterday in Alfedena, led by Arturo Como president of the ASD Sci Club of Alfedena, thanks to the call of that voice, which they have never stopped hearing and cherishing in their chests, are, despite the rain and all day long, back to narrate to the palates of thousands of affectionate tourists, their territorial identity through fried pizza.
Alfedena, of elements to show off on cultural, sports, historical and social catwalks has different ones. This August 19, it returned to crown the fried pizza, to tell its story through smell, form and goodness, a rustic surely old-fashioned, which with the charm proper to originality, form and almost mythological preparation has won, for decades now, its contention with wrinkles and depreciation.
While the ingredients may appear common, simple and do not invoke any particular suggestion, the preparation, of fried pizza requires fervent arms, strong hands and sweet at the same time. Everything, as in the most classic of recipes, finds its stronghold in the use of flour, eggs, yeast, salt, pepper, cinnamon and anise seeds. The maturing times of the mixture, are those of a large dough and must be scrupulously adhered to; it appears harmless on the pastry board, in reality it is full-bodied and firm. With the women-volunteers who prepare and respect it, it has deep and distant ties.
While waiting for the right time to start frying the typical rustic, the stories, memories and lived experiences of each one, set the table for a mostly female day, of a time that though distant holds hands with today. Without even realizing it, one finds oneself recounting that wedding, that party, and the people who are no longer there, but who so much forged, by practice and example, the lives of one’s offspring, even to the point of bringing the fried pizza party, once again, into the modern summer of 2025. This, in fact, used to be the fried pizza of company and parties. Every household in the country was supplied with it on important occasions and ceremonies through widespread and affectionate distribution. Arms outstretched to network, to make community, concepts, also, modern, typical of the sport and of those who live and protect it and who know that, only with planning as a whole and territory is strong and remains competitive.
The competitiveness of fried pizza is intact because it is strong in its history and willing to be a protagonist of modernity, by means of its distinctive elements. It was said that the rain, yesterday, did not put off the many women, many adults and grandmothers, engaged with their hands, arms and hearts in the success. It fascinates and engages to see how the dough, before being released into the boiling oil, is, thanks to the tubular cut given to it, twisted along the arms. With devotion and with graceful movements let it slide into the belly of the pan, a ritual made of understanding and knowledge. Once again it is the women who create something unique, few, but certainly brave men who flanked and supported them. Once again they return to be “mothers,” “mothers” of their history, “mothers” of their country, “mothers” of the future of their community.
Tradition needs strong legs to remain, with depth in the time that comes, and if, as in the present case, it is “trained” with sports, the podiums and goals it will conquer will be many. That of fried pizza in central southern Italy, has different voices, but all powerful.
Safeguarding, wanting and organizing this fried pizza day was Arturo Como. Como, has always, been known not only for his commitment to Cross-Country Skiing and youth, a commitment lavished at 360° for more than two decades and at all levels, also, under his presidency the ASD Sci Club of Alfedena has made distinguishable volunteer gestures, cultural and social events such as twinning with Caritas Ambrosina in Milan, dozens of sporting events, with a national profile, in short Alfedena with him has never been still and above all has never known anonymity. The fast world must be refreshed with healthy food, this was accomplished by all of Arturo Como’s collaborators yesterday. They have been the same for years and the doors are open to all.
This year’s volunteers included a young woman from northern Italy, sharing and fusion, words on the agenda of the people of Alfeden. A bridge between the past and the future where the word love is widely declined, often this feeling is abused and outraged in the language of modern social. Wise and necessary to relocate it in the gestures, authenticity and free work of dozens of volunteers. Alfedena has always been a welcoming and hospitable town; it certainly did not start today. Being united by dishes of tradition strengthens bonds and keeps alive authentic and basic feelings for true success.
This was perceived and experienced by the many tourists who, in order to taste the typicality, waited patiently for their turn, an expected and known day, that of the fried pizza. Visitors and lovers from Alfedena come from everywhere, what better appreciation for those who in the past conceived and believed in fried pizza? To go back to kneading the typical rustic alfedenese is a return to defending with bare hands and courage one’s deeds, one’s ancestors and their unconditional fight for their land. Historical associations like the ASD Ski Club of Alfedena have this privilege, this stubbornness and these skills.
Arturo Como is moved when he says that of his Alfedena, he is made up of it in every molecule, that through his sporting efforts, he will want to make it all that it deserves, to make it continue to be known, loved and respected.
Ideas these shared and supported by all the people who, without accusing any fatigue, have created goodness, new history and a lot of belonging. Alfedenese and tourists have understandings and affinities, memorable ones that should not be incensed with proclamations, but, only, with gestures with a high human profile. Nothing can be improvised, everything is built by means of a creed that is made known and lived by us from an early age, this is what my mother passed on to me and this is what I want to pass on to the athletes and young people I will be lucky enough to meet in the path of my sports assignments. A sincere thank you to the friends and friends who have welcomed and supported my desire to keep alive the fried pizza of Alfedena that, so much has built and so much can continue to build for our future
Como said.
The proceeds of the day will go to the sports, social and cultural activities of the ASD Sci Club of Alfedena, a form of investment intended for the young members and for the good of the communities they will plow. Once again, sport is voice and action for the future and, it does so starting from the traditions that have always identified us.
Seasons have the privileged role of marking time, those that await President Arturo Como and his sporting endeavors promise to be intense, surprising and, as is his style, relevant.
Food and sports unite and unite, let us continue to keep them as diners at the same table. This is the form of love and truth that will never go hand in hand with non-consistency, with non-sincerity, and will always invest only in the value of the people and the community that conceived them and wants to see them grow free and capable.
The article Fried pizza: Alfedena’s ASD Ski club lights up hearts and stove comes from TheNewyorkese.
