A Taste of Gragnano in Caturano - Panuozzo and Wine

The Gragnano panuozzo takes center stage in the province of Caserta

In the village of Caturano, just over two kilometers from the center of Macerata Campania in the province of Caserta, the ovens fire up every June for A Taste of Gragnano in Caturano - Panuozzo and Wine. The title says it all: for a few evenings, a slice of the Campanian coast moves inland to Caserta, bringing its two most recognizable products: panuozzo and Gragnano red wine. It is a young festival, launched in 2025, that has quickly carved out a spot in the local summer calendar.

What is panuozzo?

Panuozzo is a long loaf of bread dough baked in a wood-fired oven, sliced in half, stuffed, and then briefly returned to the oven so the ingredients warm up and the crust becomes crispy again. It is a specialty born in Gragnano, just behind the Sorrento Peninsula, and over the years it has become one of the most beloved street foods in the region. In Caturano, it is offered in various flavors, following traditional recipes, and cooked to order in front of the public: this is the heart of the event.

Gragnano red in the glass

Accompanying the panuozzo is Gragnano DOC red wine, a lively, easy-drinking red from the Sorrento Peninsula, served chilled and chosen specifically for its ability to pair perfectly with savory fillings without feeling heavy. The panuozzo-Gragnano pairing is the hallmark of the event and what distinguishes it from the many other festivals in the province.

• Panuozzi cooked to order in a wood-fired oven, with various fillings
• Gragnano DOC red wine served by the glass
• Other offerings from the food stalls managed by committee volunteers
• Open-air tables in the square and musical evenings

Who organizes the festival

The event is promoted by Father Pietro Rachiero and the San Marcello Martire Festival Committee, the association that revolves around the parish church of Caturano, and it enjoys the moral patronage of the Municipality of Macerata Campania. The same committee enlivens the village calendar throughout the year: in spring with the "Welcome Spring" event, and in autumn with the patronal feast of San Marcello Martire, which falls on the first Sunday of October in Caturano. As with many village festivals, the proceeds support the activities of the parish community.

From "Panuozzo in the Square with the Priest" to the June festival

The formula didn't appear out of nowhere. In 2024, the committee proposed "Panuozzo in the Square with the Priest" in September: two days with stalls opening in the late afternoon, 70s-90s music, and karaoke. The success of that trial convinced the organizers to relaunch the idea in a more defined format and move it to the height of summer, giving it its current name and focusing on the pairing with Gragnano wine.

Caturano, a village with its own identity

With about three thousand inhabitants, Caturano is the main district of Macerata Campania. Administratively autonomous until 1811, it has maintained its own distinct character over time, recognizable in its devotion to San Marcello Martire and a long tradition of sacred performances and popular theater. Macerata Campania, for its part, is known throughout the region for the Feast of Sant'Antuono and the Battuglie di Pastellessa, which fills the streets with barrels, vats, and scythes every January. The panuozzo festival adds a second major highlight to the local calendar, this time in summer and centered around the table.

What atmosphere to expect

It is not a massive festival; it is a village feast, with chairs set up in the square, families meeting after dinner, the committee members at the stalls, and the scent of freshly baked bread drifting through the air. Visitors from outside will find popular prices, generous portions, and a genuine welcome—the same kind that makes festivals in the province of Caserta a direct way to get to know the territory.

Why go?

Because it is one of the few opportunities to taste panuozzo outside of its territory of origin without losing any authenticity, and because the free admission and evening hours make it an easy stop for anyone in the Caserta area, between the Royal Palace and the villages of the plain, on a June evening.