Baccalà Festival and More

A festival born from a vow to the Madonna del Mare

The Baccalà Festival and More takes place in Aiello-Campomanfoli, a hamlet of the municipality of Castel San Giorgio, in the province of Salerno, in that strip of hilly Campania that bridges the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese and the Lattari Mountains. Here, far from the coast, a fish-based festival has been celebrated since the late 19th century: according to local tradition, it was the Archbishop of Salerno who decreed that the festivities in honor of Maria Santissima di Costantinopoli—also known as the Madonna of the Sea—should feature a lean menu. That prescription gave rise to the gastronomic custom that still enlivens the June evenings today.

Salt cod, the absolute star

The dried and desalted cod is served according to the recipes of traditional Campanian cuisine, prepared by community volunteers. The menu revolves around a few well-made dishes, served at the food stands that open every evening from 7 PM.

• Pennette with salt cod, the festival's signature first course
• Salt cod meatballs, fried or in tomato sauce
• Cuoppo of fried fish, the icon of Campanian street food
• Other local specialties and alternative options designed for vegetarians, children, and people with food intolerances

All at popular prices, with service provided by the families of the hamlet: this is the spirit of a festival that remains, first and foremost, a self-funded village celebration.

Music, dancing, and markets

Alongside the food, the Community Center square transforms into an open-air dance floor every evening. The program alternates between dance nights, folk groups, and live concerts ranging from the Italian repertoire to great international hits; recent editions have also featured street performers and craft and local product markets along the festival route. The atmosphere is typical of the festivals in the Salerno hinterland: long tables, whole families, and neighbors reuniting after the winter.

A fixed date in the Salerno June calendar

Reaching its twenty-eighth edition in 2026, the event is now one of the most anticipated dates in the province of Salerno's festival calendar. The format has consolidated over the years: three consecutive evenings, always in the second half of June, with completely free admission. A week later, the same community organizes the Potato Festival, extending the season of popular festivals in Aiello-Campomanfoli.

Why it's worth a visit

Visitors from outside will find a festival here that has nothing manufactured for tourists: no paid admission, no artificial scenery, just a community cooking for itself and for those passing through. It is also an opportunity to discover an off-the-beaten-path corner of Campania, just a few kilometers from Nocera Inferiore and Sarno, with the possibility of combining the visit with exploring the historic center of Castel San Giorgio and its hillside hamlets.