A Ccapo a nni Monte

The return of A Ccapo a nni Monte

After a multi-year hiatus, the Pro Loco of Volturara Irpina is bringing A Ccapo a nni Monte back to the town's historic center, scheduled for Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026. It is one of the most anticipated highlights of the Estate Volturarese (Volturara Summer), a calendar of events curated annually by the municipal administration in collaboration with the Pro Loco, the Sant'Antonio di Padova festival committee, and local associations. Mayor Marino Sarno noted that the event restores a tradition that has long united the Irpinian community—a comeback that reflects the growth of this town in the province of Avellino, Campania.

A village that tells its story through alleys and stairways

The name, in the local Volturarese dialect, refers to the climb toward the upper part of the town, where the festivities are concentrated. In previous editions, the route wound through the village's alleys and stairways, past stone houses over a century old and terraces offering views of the town and the Piana del Dragone. Along the path, living tableaux depicted traditional rural life—the crafts, tools, and domestic habits of the plateau—and, during the centenary edition, scenes from the Great War when the town's men and boys were called to the front. This is not a parade; the village itself becomes the stage, meant to be explored on foot.

The taste of Irpinia: 'quarantino' beans, cheeses, and honey

The culinary experience is the heart of the event. During these evenings, the historic center fills with stalls serving traditional rural dishes, prepared by local volunteers and families. In past editions, the Slow Food Avellino chapter brought local producers of Irpinian excellence to the village, featuring iconic products:

• the Volturara Irpina 'quarantino' bean, a small, irregular bean with a thin, ash-white skin, grown in the plains at the foot of Mount Terminio and protected by a Slow Food Presidium; it is named for its short 40-day maturation cycle;
• Volturarese cheeses from local dairies;
• honey from the Terminio plateau;
• chestnut craft beer, linking the glass to another symbol of the territory, the Palommina Rossa chestnut.

Artisans and traditional crafts

Alongside the food stalls, artists and artisans display their work, tools, and equipment along the route—a widespread exhibition of traditional crafts that, combined with the rural scenes, showcases the economy of a mountain village before the era of depopulation. This is what makes A Ccapo a nni Monte more than just a food festival.

Volturara Irpina, the Dragon Valley, and Mount Terminio

Volturara Irpina sits at an altitude of 620 meters in the heart of the Picentini Mountains, at the foot of Mount Terminio. Its most unique feature is the Piana del Dragone, a karst basin that drains through sinkholes known in local tradition as the "dragon's mouths." Local legend tells of the warrior Gesio who defeated a three-headed dragon, while geology explains that these waters feed the region's aqueducts. Above the town, on Mount Sant'Angelo, lie the ruins of the San Michele Castle, dating back to the Norman and Aragonese periods, now accessible via recently equipped via ferratas. In Piazza Roma, you will find the centuries-old linden tree, the historic fountain, and the Church of San Nicola di Bari with its 1754 leaning bell tower.

The rest of the 2026 Volturara Summer

The event is part of a calendar running from June to October. Before A Ccapo a nni Monte, the Cheesemaker Festival (July 18-19) and the Sant'Antonio di Padova festivities (July 24-28) took place. Following the event, the schedule includes the Fuorimano Irpinia Bike Trail (August 4-6), the national Panda 4x4 rally, the departure of the 'Castellana' pilgrimage to the Montevergine sanctuary on August 14th, and the Feast of the Madonnina della Piana. September features the 'Quarantino' Bean Festival (September 11-13, 14th edition), while October concludes with the Chestnut Festival.

Know before you go

The evenings take place outdoors and involve uphill walking; comfortable shoes are essential as the route consists of stairways and cobblestones. At an altitude of 620 meters, the air cools down in the evening, even in August. The detailed program is released by the Pro Loco and the Municipality in the days leading up to the event.