The southern Italian town of Diamante hosts an annual Chilli Pepper Festival celebrating the spicy tastes of the surrounding Calabria region.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
Chilli-eating contest —
The highlight of Diamante's Chilli Pepper Festival is the Chilli Eaters' Marathon, in which contestants try to eat the most chopped peppers.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
Chilli-eating champion —
Maurizio Capocchiano, who won the 2013 Chilli Eaters' Marathon, hopes to break the record this year by eating 800 grams of peppers.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
Man on fire —
Chilli eating champ Maurizio Capocchiano says he's been enjoying chilli since he was an infant.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
If you can't stand the heat —
"It's nasty but it's also fun to watch other people stuffing their mouths, turning red and suffering like hell," says Chilli festival organizer Enzo Monaco.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
Scary spice —
Chillis are seen as a good luck charm in the Italian town of Diamante and, according to local belief, they scare demons away.
Courtesy FestivalPeperoncino.org
Chilli with everything —
"Peppers here rule," says chilli festival organizer Enzo Monaco. "People add chilli to all their dishes, even to a cup of milk and fruit salad."