Annunziata Festival
Faith, traditions, and flavors of the Valle Vitulanese around the Basilica dell'Annunziata
About Annunziata Festival
A festival that unites the Valle Vitulanese
The Annunziata Festival was established a few years ago with a clear ambition: not merely to celebrate a religious anniversary, but to bring the shared identity of the Valle Vitulanese—the Sannio area on the slopes of the Taburno massif in the province of Benevento—back to the center stage. The heart of the event is the Municipality of Vitulano, in Campania, home to the sanctuary that gives the festival its name. Surrounding it are the neighboring towns—Campoli del Monte Taburno, Castelpoto, Cautano, Foglianise, and Tocco Caudio—all participating as a single, unified community.
This is not a typical village fair or a commercial festival; it is a long weekend where liturgy, historical memory, music, and gastronomy intertwine in a sober, authentic event far removed from the logic of mass tourism.
The Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata, the heart of devotion
The festival takes place at the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata e Sant'Antonio, entrusted to the Friars Minor and overlooking the valley just outside Vitulano. The church was built on the ruins of an ancient chapel dedicated to Saint Mary at the crossroads of a royal sheep track. Franciscan tradition holds that Saint Bernardino of Siena donated a 15th-century painting of the Annunciation by an anonymous Sienese artist to the community to support the construction of the convent.
The building, a Renaissance-style structure with a Latin cross plan, three naves, majolica flooring, stone columns, and barrel vaults, was consecrated on November 18, 1715. In 1989, Pope John Paul II elevated it to the status of sanctuary-basilica, a recognition officially notified in 1991. The four-tiered bell tower houses three bells, the oldest dating back to the 17th century. In the liturgical calendar, the Solemnity of the Annunciation falls on March 25, but the popular festivities organized by the Committee take place in the following weeks.
Recovered traditions: cupeta and palla di zazzà
One of the most original features of the event is the effort to recover the valley's customs that were at risk of disappearing. Two, in particular, have become symbols of the festival:
- Cupeta — the white nougat of the Valle Vitulanese, a sweet that for generations served as a token of a promise of love. The organizers' slogan, "give a cupeta, give your heart," perfectly summarizes its emotional value.
- Palla di zazzà — a traditional courtship game: a simple rag ball attached to an elastic band, which was thrown toward the person one wished to win over. A playful and modest way of declaring one's feelings, now revived during the festival.
- Vassoio della valle — a selection of local specialties served at the stalls in the square in front of the convent.
Alongside these symbols, other local food and wine excellences complete the portrait of an agricultural and pastoral territory.
A community project: "La Valle Insieme"
The Annunziata Festival is also the public showcase for a broader project: the "La Valle Insieme" association, which brings together the six municipalities of the valley to combat depopulation and the risk of losing collective memory. This path has led to the creation of a common logo, a publication dedicated to the valley's festivals, and the school award "La Valle Insieme — Ci siamo anche noi", aimed at students of the "Padre Isaia Columbro" Comprehensive Institute in Foglianise, encouraging the younger generation to tell the story of their towns.
Each edition is preceded by a presentation conference in the basilica, featuring mayors, religious figures, teachers, and local historians—a habit that gives the festival a cultural solidity unusual for a local event.
Sacred music and entertainment
The musical component is carefully curated. In past editions, the basilica has hosted a Requiem Mass for soloists, choir, and orchestra conducted by Cosimo Fuggi, featuring performances by the "Arte Nostra" association and the artist Gitano, in a repertoire that alternates between liturgical registers and traditional Campanian folk music.
When to go and what to expect
The festival takes place in April over two or three days, featuring Eucharistic celebrations, convivial moments, sports tournaments for the valley's youth, and food stalls. It is an ideal opportunity to combine a visit to the sanctuary with a tour of the Valle Vitulanese: the villages of the Taburno, the ancient marble quarries, and the trails of the regional park. Those looking for a slow, unfiltered travel experience will find one of the most sincere expressions of the Sannio spring here.
Annunziata Festival — edition 2026
A journey started in March
The path to the 2026 edition began on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM, with the presentation conference "La Valle Vitulanese — Tradizioni, fede e identità di un territorio", hosted in the basilica. After the introduction by Committee President Mario Buono, speakers included Friar Izaias Rosa da Silva, guardian of the fraternity, on the spiritual and religious significance of the Annunziata Festival, the mayor of Vitulano Raffaele Scarinzi, and the mayor of Foglianise Giovanni Mastrocinque, representing the valley's communities. The keynote address, "Il Francescanesimo nella Valle Vitulanese: storia e spiritualità", was delivered by Father Davide Fernando Panella, a Friar Minor and historian; the moderator was journalist Angelo Cerulo.
2026 Initiatives
During the evening, two projects accompanying the edition were presented: the publication "Le Feste della Valle — Custodi della tradizione e del territorio", dedicated to the valley's festive calendar, and the "La Valle Insieme — Ci siamo anche noi" award, curated by Rossana Zampelli and aimed at students of the "Padre Isaia Columbro" Comprehensive Institute in Foglianise, with the goal of involving younger generations in learning about the valley's history and cultural identity.
Traditions and gastronomy
As is tradition, the festival showcased the territory's defining elements: cupeta, the white nougat that has always been a token of love in the Valle Vitulanese, the palla di zazzà game, and the vassoio della valle featuring typical products from the six municipalities, served at the stalls set up in the square in front of the convent.
Programme Annunziata Festival 2026
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 7:00 PM — Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata e Sant'Antonio (presentation conference)
- Greeting by Committee President Mario Buono
- Friar Izaias Rosa da Silva, guardian of the fraternity: the spiritual and religious significance of the Annunziata Festival
- Institutional greetings from the mayor of Vitulano, Raffaele Scarinzi, and the mayor of Foglianise, Giovanni Mastrocinque
- Report by Father Davide Fernando Panella: "Il Francescanesimo nella Valle Vitulanese: storia e spiritualità"
- Presentation of the publication "Le Feste della Valle — Custodi della tradizione e del territorio"
- Presentation of the school award "La Valle Insieme — Ci siamo anche noi", curated by Rossana Zampelli
- Moderator: Angelo Cerulo
From Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, 2026 — Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata e Sant'Antonio
- Liturgical celebrations in honor of the Virgin Annunziata
- Musical and cultural moments in the basilica
- Food stalls in the convent square: cupeta, vassoio della valle, and typical products of the Valle Vitulanese
- Revival of the traditional palla di zazzà game
- Initiatives aimed at schools and youth from the six municipalities of the valley
The detailed calendar with the times of individual celebrations and shows was not released online; it was communicated locally by the parish and the organizing Committee.
Highlights Annunziata Festival 2026
- Three days of festivities at the sanctuary-basilica entrusted to the Friars Minor, one of the most beloved places of devotion in the Sannio.
- The March 21 conference with Father Davide Fernando Panella's report on Franciscanism in the Valle Vitulanese.
- The publication "Le Feste della Valle — Custodi della tradizione e del territorio".
- The school award "La Valle Insieme — Ci siamo anche noi" for students of the area.
- Cupeta, palla di zazzà, and vassoio della valle: three recovered traditions that have become symbols of the event.
Prices Annunziata Festival 2026
Practical information — Annunziata Festival
How to get there
Vitulano is located about fifteen kilometers west of Benevento, on the northern side of the Taburno massif. By car, take the SS7 Appia or the Fondo Valle Vitulanese and follow the signs for the town center and the sanctuary. The Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata e Sant'Antonio is located just outside the town, with parking in the square in front of the convent. Those arriving by train should get off at Benevento Centrale and continue by bus toward the valley. For those coming from further away, the reference airports are Naples-Capodichino (about an hour and a half) and, further away, Rome-Fiumicino.
Admission and costs
Participation in the celebrations, conferences, and concerts in the basilica is free. Only the tastings at the stalls set up in the square require payment, with typical village festival prices. Cupeta can also be purchased from local producers.
Tips
- Even in April, evenings at this altitude can be chilly: it is advisable to bring a jacket.
- Mass and concert times are announced in the days leading up to the event by the parish and the Committee: it is useful to check them before leaving.
- For accommodation, look for agritourism facilities in the Valle Vitulanese or in Benevento, which offers a wider range of hotels.
- Combine your visit with a walk through the historic center of Vitulano and discover the local marbles, which were historically exported throughout the Kingdom of Naples.
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Where does it take place — Annunziata Festival
Basilica della Santissima Annunziata e Sant'Antonio