The legend tells that the origin of the 'cooks' in Villa Santa Maria and in the entire Sangro Valley dates back to the period of the Caracciolos' princes, lords of Villa Santa Maria. In 1560 prince Ferrante Caracciolo bought the fief and in the castle built under the rocky spur next to the river was organized the first cooking school. When the princes spent their time here several hunting expeditions took place and when the game bags were emptied in the castle's kitchen the hunters, in order to help the servants, became both cooks and waiters showing their ability in the culinary art. This probably gave to the prince the idea to create the first 'cooking school'. The first documents reliable to recreate the history of generations of cooks date back to 1750. They are called Register of the Free University of Villa Santa Maria.