Arte e Orto a km 0
Three evenings of local produce, craftsmanship, and rural traditions in the village of Montechiaro
About Arte e Orto a km 0
A village that tells its story through food
Arte e Orto a km 0 is the food and wine festival that every summer brings the village of Montechiaro—a small hillside hamlet in the municipality of Vico Equense, in the province of Naples, Campania—to the forefront. For three July evenings, the narrow streets of the village fill with stalls, aromas, and voices. At the heart of it all are the local products grown just steps away, traditional craftsmanship, and a rural culture that, in the Sorrento Peninsula, is not just a postcard cliché but a living memory.
Farm-to-table dishes and culinary contests
The core of the event is local cuisine. Dishes are prepared by the village cooks using ingredients gathered from the surrounding gardens and fields: seasonal vegetables, legumes, olive oil, cheese, and preserves. Each evening features a themed culinary competition dedicated to a local specialty, pitting the recipes of the participants against one another.
- On the first two evenings, the verdict is left to popular juries, composed of visitors drawn from the public and changing each night.
- On the final evening, a technical jury steps in, featuring representatives from the Consorzio di Tutela del Provolone del Monaco DOP—the iconic cheese of the Lattari Mountains—to award the final prizes.
Alongside the tastings, there is space for the exhibition and sale of artisan and agricultural products: a direct way to connect producers and consumers without intermediaries, which is the very essence of the "zero-kilometer" concept.
The Cappella Rossa and music over the gulf
The setting does much of the work. The natural stage for the event is the terrace of the Cappella Rossa, overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento. From here, at sunset and into the evening, groups playing folk and contemporary music perform. The music accompanies the tastings throughout the evening, giving the festival the typical rhythm of Campanian village feasts, where people eat, listen, and chat without haste.
For families and children
Arte e Orto a km 0 is designed as an intergenerational celebration. The program includes entertainment for children, traditional games of yesteryear, and "grandma's riddles"—small word games designed to involve grandparents and grandchildren alike. This is a deliberate choice by the organizers: to pass on the vocabulary and customs of rural life to the younger generation before they are lost.
Who organizes it
The event is promoted by the Associazione Montechiaro Insieme ODV (AMI), a volunteer association created to protect and enhance the village, with the patronage of the Municipality of Vico Equense and the collaboration of Coldiretti Napoli. The event relies on the volunteer work of the residents and the support of local sponsors, and is part of the municipal summer program Vico d'Estate, which hosts events throughout the city's center and hamlets from late May to September.
Why it's worth the climb
Vico Equense is known for its "pizza by the meter," its beaches, and Monte Faito, but it is in its hillside hamlets that the most authentic part of the territory is preserved. Climbing up to Montechiaro on a July evening means seeing a village that manages its own festival: no big stages, no stars, just home cooking, real products, and a view that makes the trip worthwhile on its own. For those visiting the Sorrento Coast, it is one of the best opportunities to connect with the local community rather than just sticking to the seafront.
Arte e Orto a km 0 — edition 2026
Arte e Orto a km 0 2026
From July 20 to 22, 2026, every evening from 7:00 PM to midnight, the village of Montechiaro in Vico Equense hosted the food and wine festival Arte e Orto a km 0, dedicated to promoting local products and the rural culture of the Sorrento Peninsula.
Once again this year, the village transformed into a trail of stalls and tastings: dishes prepared with vegetables, cheeses, and products grown and processed locally, artisan and agricultural product stalls, and live music from the Cappella Rossa terrace with a view of the gulf. There was no shortage of entertainment for children, traditional games, and "grandma's riddles," designed to involve all generations of the community.
The organization was handled by the Associazione Montechiaro Insieme (AMI), with the patronage of the Municipality of Vico Equense. The event was part of the municipal summer program Vico d'Estate 2026, which hosts events throughout the city center and hamlets from late May to September.
Programme Arte e Orto a km 0 2026
Evening structure
Every evening from July 20 to 22, 2026, from 7:00 PM to midnight, in the village of Montechiaro.
- Zero-km tastings: dishes prepared with local products, served at the village stalls.
- Themed culinary competitions: each evening is dedicated to a local specialty, comparing participants' recipes.
- Juries: following the festival's established formula, the first two evenings' dishes are judged by popular juries made up of the public, while the final evening's awards are decided by the technical jury of the Consorzio di Tutela del Provolone del Monaco DOP.
- Live music: performances by folk and contemporary music groups from the terrace of the Cappella Rossa, overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento.
- Exhibition and sale: stalls featuring artisan and agricultural products from the area.
- Children's area: entertainment, traditional games, and "grandma's riddles."
Details regarding the musical groups and the themes for each competition are released by the organizers on the official social media channels in the days leading up to the event.
Highlights Arte e Orto a km 0 2026
- Three evenings, July 20–22, 2026, from 7:00 PM to midnight.
- Themed culinary competitions with popular juries and a final award ceremony by the Consorzio di Tutela del Provolone del Monaco DOP.
- Folk and contemporary music concerts from the panoramic terrace of the Cappella Rossa.
- Stalls featuring agricultural products and crafts from the village of Montechiaro.
- Traditional games and children's entertainment.
- Parking for cars and motorcycles and shuttle service from the Vico Equense Circumvesuviana station.
Prices Arte e Orto a km 0 2026
Practical information — Arte e Orto a km 0
Location
Borgata Montechiaro, a hillside hamlet of Vico Equense (NA), Campania. The event is centered around the Cappella Rossa area, with its panoramic terrace overlooking the gulf.
How to get there
- By train: Circumvesuviana line (Naples–Sorrento), get off at Vico Equense station. During the festival evenings, a shuttle service runs from the Vico Equense Circumvesuviana station.
- By car: From the A3 Naples–Salerno motorway, take the Castellammare di Stabia exit, then follow the SS145 Sorrentina road to Vico Equense and head up toward the hamlet. Parking areas for cars and motorcycles are provided.
- By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, then take the Circumvesuviana train or bus to Vico Equense.
Hours
The evenings run from 7:00 PM to midnight.
Tips
- The village streets are narrow and steep: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- The detailed program for each evening is published by the organizers on the event's official social media channels.
- For accommodation, Vico Equense offers hotels and guest houses along the coast, just a few kilometers from the village; booking in advance is recommended during high season.
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Where does it take place — Arte e Orto a km 0
Borgo di Montechiaro — Cappella Rossa
Borgata Montechiaro, 80069 Vico Equense