A Dive into the Past - Flavours and Games of Our Tradition
Old-fashioned games, rustic cuisine, and folk music in Piazza Antonio Fusco, Torrecuso
About A Dive into the Past
The town's heritage returns to the square
"A Dive into the Past - Flavours and Games of Our Tradition" is the summer festival that transforms Piazza Antonio Fusco in Torrecuso, in the province of Benevento, into a lively village courtyard. The initiative stems from a desire to rediscover and celebrate the local cultural, social, and culinary heritage, bringing back the customs, flavours, and games that defined the childhood and daily lives of many generations in the Sannio area.
The concept is simple: for two days, the square becomes a meeting place where tradition and conviviality blend in a festive atmosphere open to all. There is no stage separating the public from the performers; instead, it is a series of activities where children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly participate together, with the explicit goal of preserving collective memory and strengthening community bonds.
Games of yesteryear
The afternoon is dedicated to traditional games, the kind once played in the streets without any special equipment. These games are the heart of the event, involving everyone in a friendly competition that is, above all, an excuse for laughter. The programme includes:
- the pignatta (a blindfolded pot-breaking game);
- the potato race;
- the sack race;
- musical chairs;
- the wheelbarrow race;
- the spoon and egg race.
These games tell a story of a time before screens, when all you needed was a square, a few household items, and a spirit of challenge. Seeing them passed down from the town's elders to today's children is the most meaningful part of the event.
Flavours of rustic cuisine
The second half of the festival's name focuses on the table. Throughout the evenings, traditional rustic dishes from Torrecuso are served, prepared according to local recipes. This is a cuisine that is humble in its origins but incredibly rich in flavour, built on vegetables, legumes, homemade pasta, and cheeses from the Taburno area. It is the most direct way to experience how people in Sannio ate before industrial products became common, perfectly paired with the wines that have made the town famous.
Folk music evenings
After dinner, the square comes alive with folk music and dancing. Each evening features local bands dedicated to traditional repertoires, including accordions, tammorre, tarantellas, and songs rooted in the oral culture of Campania. Dancing in the square is free and open to everyone, regardless of age.
Organised by the "La Lucerna 2" Social Centre
The event is promoted by the "La Lucerna 2" Senior Social Centre of Torrecuso, with the patronage of the Provincial ACLI of Benevento, the Municipality of Torrecuso, and ACLI Terra. The centre is a cornerstone for social life in the town, and the fact that it is the elderly themselves organising these traditional games and meals gives the event a unique, authentic value. The organisers invite families, young people, seniors, associations, and visitors from across the Sannio region to join in.
Torrecuso, home of Aglianico at the foot of the Taburno
Torrecuso is a town of just over three thousand inhabitants in Campania, perched at an altitude of about 420 metres on the slopes of the Taburno-Camposauro massif, about ten kilometres northwest of Benevento. The village, of Lombard origin, features narrow alleys leading up to Palazzo Cito, now the town hall. The area is famous for its viticulture, producing Aglianico del Taburno DOCG and Falanghina del Sannio; the town also hosts the historic Vinestate wine festival at the end of August. "A Dive into the Past" fits into this summer calendar as a more intimate, local moment dedicated to community memory rather than mass tourism.
A Dive into the Past — edition 2026
The 2026 Edition
The appointment with "A Dive into the Past - Flavours and Games of Our Tradition" is set for Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, in Piazza Antonio Fusco, in the centre of Torrecuso, province of Benevento. The initiative is promoted by the "La Lucerna 2" Senior Social Centre with the patronage of the Provincial ACLI of Benevento, the Municipality of Torrecuso, and ACLI Terra.
The schedule is identical for both days: it begins at 5 PM with traditional games in the square—pignatta breaking, potato race, sack race, musical chairs, wheelbarrow race, and the spoon and egg race—while the stands offer rustic Torrecuso dishes prepared according to local recipes. At 9 PM, the evening continues with folk music and dancing: Rochitos Fisalive Music on Saturday, August 1st, and I Trementisti with their engaging folk repertoire on Sunday, August 2nd.
The organisers invite families, young people, seniors, associations, and visitors from across the Sannio region to participate in this moment of meeting, celebration, and community participation, designed to preserve the town's collective memory and pass it on to new generations.
Programme A Dive into the Past 2026
Saturday, August 1, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Opening of traditional games in Piazza Antonio Fusco: pignatta, potato race, sack race, musical chairs, wheelbarrow race, spoon and egg race.
- Food stands with rustic Torrecuso cuisine, prepared according to local recipes.
- 9:00 PM — Folk music and dancing with Rochitos Fisalive Music.
Sunday, August 2, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Second day of traditional games in the square, open to children, teenagers, and adults.
- Gastronomic offerings of local rustic tradition.
- 9:00 PM — Closing evening with I Trementisti and their folk music repertoire.
Highlights A Dive into the Past 2026
- Two days in Piazza Antonio Fusco, in the centre of Torrecuso.
- Old-fashioned games from 5 PM: pignatta, sacks, wheelbarrow, potato, chairs, spoon and egg.
- Rustic Torrecuso cuisine based on local recipes.
- Rochitos Fisalive Music in concert on Saturday, August 1st, at 9 PM.
- I Trementisti and folk music on Sunday, August 2nd, at 9 PM.
- Event promoted by the "La Lucerna 2" Senior Social Centre with the patronage of ACLI Benevento, the Municipality of Torrecuso, and ACLI Terra.
- Intergenerational event, open to families, youth, seniors, and associations of the Sannio region.
Prices A Dive into the Past 2026
Practical information — A Dive into the Past
Location
All activities take place in Piazza Antonio Fusco, in the centre of Torrecuso (postcode 82030), province of Benevento.
Getting there
By car from Benevento, take the SS7 Appia road and then the provincial road to Torrecuso (approx. 10 km, 20 minutes). From Naples, follow the A1 motorway to Caserta, then the SS7 towards Benevento, or the SS372 Telesina, exiting at Ponte-Torrecuso. The nearest train station is Ponte-Torrecuso, on the Benevento-Naples line via Valle Caudina; from Benevento, bus connections to the town are available. Parking should be sought in the streets surrounding the historic centre, which has narrow alleys.
Admission and costs
Local sources do not indicate any entrance fee: access to the square, games, and concerts is free. Food and drinks at the gastronomic stands are available for purchase at affordable, village-festival prices.
Tips
Games begin in the late afternoon and are designed for children, making it an ideal event for a family evening. In the evening, at an altitude of 420 metres, it can get chilly, so it is advisable to bring a sweater. The occasion can be combined with a visit to the Aglianico del Taburno wineries or a hike in the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park.
Contacts
Information is available from the "La Lucerna 2" Senior Social Centre of Torrecuso and the Municipality of Torrecuso (www.comune.torrecuso.bn.it).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — A Dive into the Past
Piazza Antonio Fusco
Piazza Antonio Fusco, 82030 Torrecuso