A Day in the Village

A Day in the Village: Slow living as a choice

A Day in the Village is the event that, on June 14, 2026, transformed Serramezzana, one of the most authentic and smallest villages in Cilento, into a miniature laboratory for slow tourism. The core idea, widely covered by local Campanian media, is simple and intentionally counter-current: not a "disposable" event designed for mass crowds, but a day built on quality time, genuine encounters with local residents, and respect for the places and communities that preserve them.

The Municipality of Serramezzana, in the province of Salerno, lies in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: a territory where olive groves, stone alleys, and glimpses of the sea create a vision of Campania far removed from mass tourism routes.

The program

The Sunday was structured into two distinct moments, both connected by the same common thread: conviviality, signature cuisine, exploration of the village, and singer-songwriter music.

• 1:00 PM - "The Lunch to Connect," at The Finch - Cilento Country House: a shared table in Max and Cate's rustic garden, featuring a menu by chef Andrea Squillaro based on fresh garden produce and local Cilento ingredients. The conversation, moderated by Davide DDL, brought together musician Roberto Colella and Danilo Porro, a myrtle liqueur producer, concluding with a dialogue between Roberto's songs and Danilo's MyrTonic.
• 5:00 PM - "Stories and Trails," meeting at the Serramezzana Town Hall (Via Roma 1): a storytelling walk through alleys, tales, and hidden corners, led by Anna Acquaviva, former mayor of the town and a living memory of the community. The day concluded with an acoustic performance by Roberto Colella in the courtyard of Palazzo Materazzi, a historic residence in the village.

Who brings the event to life

The organizational hub is The Finch - Cilento Country House, a farm-to-table bistro and hospitality venue born in the village, which chose to open its spaces to the town rather than limiting itself to traditional lodging. Around this core, local professionals and producers collaborate: a chef focusing on the vegetable garden and short supply chains, a distiller bringing myrtle to the table, and a singer-songwriter closing the day with voice and guitar. The format is that of an intimate gathering with limited capacity and mandatory booking, rather than a typical town square festival.

Serramezzana, a village to rediscover

Serramezzana is what the Cilento press calls a "minor jewel": few inhabitants, centuries of rural history, and panoramas stretching from the hills to the sea. The village retains its ancient layout and Palazzo Materazzi, a 17th-century building linked to the family that held the fiefdom until the abolition of feudalism. Its courtyard has long been a natural stage for concerts and cultural meetings. It is precisely this distributed heritage—made of stone, oral memory, and agriculture—that "A Day in the Village" seeks to share without turning it into a tourist display.

A project supported by the PNRR

The initiative was born within a project funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU, as part of the PNRR, thanks to the Imprese Borghi incentive promoted by the Ministry of Culture. This funding line is designed to restart the economy and cultural life of small towns, and in this case, it translates into a replicable format that combines hospitality, agriculture, music, and local storytelling.

Who is it for?

• Those seeking a Cilento experience far from crowded beaches and hit-and-run tourism.
• Those who love local gastronomy, zero-mile products, and convivial dining.
• Those who appreciate singer-songwriter music in intimate settings, without stages or barriers.
• Walkers and curious travelers who want to hear a village described by those who have governed and lived it.

As this is a limited-capacity format, those wishing to participate in future editions should follow the organizers' channels: in 2026, the lunch sold out well in advance, and the afternoon walk also required online booking.