Areneide - Sand Sculpture Festival
Four days of ephemeral art, music, and local flavors on the Lungomare Speranza in Marina di Casal Velino
About Areneide
Areneide: When the Cilento beach becomes a museum
Areneide is the Sand Sculpture Festival held in Marina di Casal Velino, the coastal district of the Casal Velino municipality in the province of Salerno, located in the heart of the Cilento region and Campania. For four days in early July, the Lungomare Speranza turns into an open-air workshop where wet sand takes shape under the hands of professional sculptors. The result is not a show that ends with the final evening: the works remain on the beach for the entire summer season, becoming a must-see spot for those strolling by the sea at sunset.
The ephemeral art of Arenas Posibles
The heart of the festival lies in the large sculptures created by the Spanish collective Arenas Posibles, featuring artists Sergi Ramirez and Montserrat Cuesta. The subjects draw from the mythological, historical, and local identity of the area. In the 2026 edition, the main piece was Amor and Psyche, a sculptural group presented as a symbol of the union between strength and delicacy. Watching the creation process is part of the experience: the public can follow the sculpture's growth day by day, from the compact mass of sand to the final details. It is intentionally fragile art that accepts wind and time as part of the project, which is precisely why it attracts more curious onlookers every year.
Music, street performers, and comedy
An evening program unfolds around the beach, enlivening the Lungomare Speranza and Piazza Marconi with a format designed for audiences of all ages:
- Street performers: acrobatics, juggling, and light shows that kick off the Friday and Saturday evenings along the sea and in the square.
- Live music: from the roaming percussion of Moruga Drum to guest musical projects and traditional Southern folk sounds.
- Stand-up comedy: the closing night uses storytelling and humor to wrap up the festival with a smile.
- Sand art workshops: spaces dedicated to children, who can model their own sculptures alongside the professionals.
Gusto Italia in Tour: The fair accompanying the festival
For several editions, Areneide has partnered with Gusto Italia in Tour, the traveling fair of Italian specialties and artisanal traditions curated by the Italia Eventi Association. Stands from producers and artisans from all over the peninsula line the Lungomare Speranza, offering cheeses, cured meats, sweets, preserves, and items made of wood, ceramic, and leather. It is the perfect opportunity to taste the excellence of Cilento alongside products from other regions during a gastronomic stroll that begins in the late afternoon and continues until midnight.
A festival built by the community
Areneide is promoted by the Pro Loco Marina di Casal Velino, led by president Marco Penza, with the patronage of the Campania Region, the Salerno Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Casal Velino, and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, in collaboration with Confesercenti Salerno. The organizers' stated goal is to enhance the territory through creativity, tourism, and collaboration between entities and associations, with a particular focus on involving the younger generations.
Marina di Casal Velino: Between the sea and the Cilento Park
The setting does most of the work. Marina di Casal Velino is one of the most appreciated seaside resorts in Cilento, with a sandy beach stretching for kilometers and a sea consistently awarded for its quality. Behind it lie the ancient village of Casal Velino, perched on the hill, and the hinterland of the National Park; the archaeological site of Velia and the port of Marina di Ascea are just minutes away. Those who arrive for Areneide find a free festival by the sea and, all around, one of the most recognizable landscapes in Campania.
Areneide — edition 2026
Areneide 2026, the fourth edition
From July 2 to 5, 2026, Marina di Casal Velino hosted the fourth edition of Areneide, the Sand Sculpture Festival promoted by the Pro Loco Marina di Casal Velino. The Lungomare Speranza transformed into an open-air stage featuring ephemeral art, music, and comedy.
Amor and Psyche
The signature work of the edition was Amor and Psyche, sculpted in the sand by Sergi Ramirez and Montserrat Cuesta of the Spanish collective Arenas Posibles: a group presented by the organizers as a representation of the union between strength and delicacy. As per the festival's tradition, the sculpture remained visible on the beach throughout the summer.
The evenings
On Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, street performers opened the evenings between Piazza Marconi and the Lungomare Speranza with acrobatics, light shows, and the percussion of Moruga Drum; Friday featured Frontiere Antimusicali, and Saturday featured the Obsession musical format. On Sunday, July 5, the closing was entrusted to the stand-up comedy show La mia Routine by Daniele Ciniglio, followed by the folk music of Tarantanobes.
Around the festival
Alongside the sculptures, sand art workshops for children were held, with the creations of the little ones displayed next to the works of the professionals, as well as the Gusto Italia in Tour fair dedicated to gastronomic specialties and crafts, open on the promenade with free admission from 5:00 PM to midnight. The event recorded a large public turnout, confirming its status as one of the most appreciated summer events in Cilento.
Programme Areneide 2026
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- Start of the festival on Lungomare Speranza: beginning of the sand sculpture creation by Sergi Ramirez and Montserrat Cuesta (Arenas Posibles)
Friday, July 3, 2026
- Street performers between Piazza Marconi and Lungomare Speranza: acrobatics and light shows
- Moruga Drum, roaming percussion
- Frontiere Antimusicali in concert
- Opening of the Gusto Italia in Tour fair on the promenade (from 5:00 PM to midnight)
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- Street performers along the sea and in Piazza Marconi
- Moruga Drum, percussion
- Musical format Obsession
- Sand art workshops for children
Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Stand-up comedy 'La mia Routine' by Daniele Ciniglio
- Closing concert by Tarantanobes, folk music
- Presentation of the completed sculptures, including the 'Amor and Psyche' piece
Gusto Italia in Tour continued on the Lungomare Speranza until July 12, 2026.
Highlights Areneide 2026
- The large sand sculpture Amor and Psyche by Arenas Posibles, on display all summer
- The creation of the works visible live on the beach, day by day
- The evenings of street performers between Piazza Marconi and Lungomare Speranza
- The stand-up comedy La mia Routine by Daniele Ciniglio
- Sand art workshops for children, with the kids' works next to the professionals'
- The Gusto Italia in Tour fair featuring Italian specialties and crafts
Prices Areneide 2026
Practical information — Areneide
Location
Lungomare Speranza and Piazza Marconi, Marina di Casal Velino (Municipality of Casal Velino, province of Salerno). The sand sculptures are created directly on the beach and remain visible throughout the summer.
How to get there
By car: A2 del Mediterraneo motorway, exit Battipaglia, then SS18 heading south and follow signs for Casal Velino Marina. By train: Ascea station (Naples-Reggio Calabria line), a few kilometers away, or Vallo della Lucania-Castelnuovo station. Nearest airport: Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi.
Admission and hours
Free admission. Stands and activities come to life from the late afternoon (roughly from 5:00 PM) until midnight; evening shows generally take place after sunset.
Tips
The festival takes place during high season: it is advisable to book accommodation in advance in Marina di Casal Velino, Ascea Marina, or Pioppi. Parking areas near the promenade often fill up in the evenings: it is better to arrive early and walk. Bring water and comfortable shoes for walking on the beach.
Information
Pro Loco Marina di Casal Velino, which publishes the updated program on its social media channels in the weeks leading up to the event.
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Where does it take place — Areneide
Lungomare Speranza, Marina di Casal Velino
Lungomare Speranza, 84040 Casal Velino