Calabria is well known for its hot peppers and Calabrians have dedicated festivities and museums, not to mention academic studies, to the peperoncino. The annual Festival del Peperoncino will take place, in September, in the coastal town of Diamante.  In this region, hot peppers are an essential ingredient in many dishes.  An article in Il Sole 24 Ore describes many of these dishes and also discusses the town and the festival.  There are many delicious specialties such as the spicy ‘nduja spreadable sausage, pesto sauces for pasta that include spicy peppers, chocolate made with peperoncino and sweet tarts made with oranges, almonds and hot pepper spread. To finish every meal there is even grappa flavored with peperoncino!