Baccalà and Pizza Festival (Beltiglio)

A summer festival in the heart of Sannio

In mid-July, Beltiglio, the most populous hamlet of the Municipality of Ceppaloni in the province of Benevento, transforms into a large open-air dining room. The Baccalà and Pizza Festival takes over Piazza Umberto I for two consecutive evenings, with food stalls raising their shutters at 7:30 PM and live music starting once the sun has dipped behind the hills of Sannio. It is a village festival in the truest sense of the word: born from the initiative of local youth, grown year after year, and today recognized as one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of the Benevento summer.

Salt cod and pizza, two protagonists

The signature dish is baccalà (salt cod), prepared according to classic local recipes: a tradition that spans the whole year in Campania and finds its summer version here, served in the square rather than at home. Alongside the salted cod, the other great star is artisanal pizza, baked on the spot. The menu does not stop at the two dishes that give the festival its name:

• a rich selection of fried foods, featuring traditional Neapolitan and Sannio-style fritters;
• a variety of meat dishes, for those who prefer land-based fare;
• side dishes, desserts, and beverages from the stalls, paired with local wines.

The format is designed to satisfy the whole family, from children to adults, which explains why the square fills up from the very first hours of the evening.

Live music in Piazza Umberto I

Each evening features its own concert. Over the years, the festival has alternated between groups playing Campanian folk music—tambourines, tammorre, and traditional rhythms—and bands performing covers of Italian pop and rock. Recent editions have seen the likes of Trementisti, Kashmir, the band Leggeramente al Sud, and tribute nights dedicated to great voices of Italian music. The stage is set up right in the square, with no fences or tickets: you listen with a plate in hand, surrounded by the crowd.

Who organizes the festival

The event is managed by the A.V.U.S. association with the patronage of the Municipality of Ceppaloni. It is entirely volunteer-run: kitchens, ovens, setup, and service are handled by local residents, and the proceeds remain within the association's circuit. This self-managed dimension is part of the event's charm, which has maintained a familiar tone even as it has grown in size.

A tradition born in 2012

The first edition dates back to 2012, when the Youth Forum of Ceppaloni proposed an evening dedicated to salt cod with a specialized chef. The idea worked, and the festival returned every summer, reaching a three-evening format in 2016 with folk music groups from Irpinia and Campania. Over time, the format settled on two weekend evenings, between the second and third weekend of July, and in 2026 the event reached its eleventh edition.

Why it is worth visiting

Beltiglio is not a tourist resort: it is an agricultural village a few kilometers from Benevento, and for this very reason, the festival offers an authentic glimpse of Sannio conviviality. Visitors from outside will find popular prices, generous portions, no entry fee, and the chance to talk directly with those cooking. For those visiting inland Campania—the castle of Ceppaloni, the Taburno hills, the city of Benevento with the Arch of Trajan and the Roman Theater—it is the ideal opportunity to end the day at the table among the locals.