The original home of Italy's iconic amatriciana sauce, running since the 1960s — four of the five ingredients in the authentic recipe (guanciale, pecorino, pasta, olive oil) still come from named local producers in Rieti province, commemorated on their own Poste Italiane postage stamp series. Amatrice was devastated by the earthquake of August 24, 2016, which struck the very same weekend the festival was traditionally held and claimed nearly 300 lives; the sagra's return in the years since has become a genuine symbol of the town's rebuilding, alongside a transhumance shepherd-trail excursion and cooking demonstrations by students of the local hospitality school.