Baccalà Village (Sarno stop)

A gourmet village dedicated to salt cod

Baccalà Village is a traveling festival born from the vision of chef Antonio Peluso, owner of the Locanda del Baccalà in Marcianise. For several years, he has been touring Campania with a simple, recognizable format: an open-air village where everything revolves around one star ingredient: salt cod. This is not your typical village fair, but an event curated by a chef who has made salt cod his signature, with a clear goal: to liberate this fish from its traditional winter and Christmas-time associations, making it a popular, everyday dish for every month of the year.

The Sarno stop at the Parco Fluviale dei Cinque Sensi

One of the most successful stops on the tour is in the town of Sarno, in the province of Salerno, hosted at the Parco Fluviale dei Cinque Sensi on Via Foce. This protected natural area spans over 16,000 square meters and preserves one of the main springs of the Sarno River, featuring crystal-clear, cold water canals, lush riparian vegetation, meadows, and shaded spots. This setting transforms the gastronomic experience: instead of eating in a paved square, you dine surrounded by nature, with water flowing just steps from your table. The formula blends food, culture, and nature, designed for a full day out rather than just a quick evening meal.

What to eat

The menu alternates between traditional Campanian recipes and the chef's contemporary twists. Recent editions in Sarno have featured:

• Fried salt cod 'cuoppo', served in the classic paper cone, the festival's signature dish;
• Pasta dishes such as fresh fusilli with salt cod and crispy 'peperone crusco' peppers;
• Main courses like boiled salt cod with crispy peppers, cherry tomatoes, and olives;
• Street food snacks, side dishes, and desserts, paired with beer or wine included in the tasting packages.

The packages are offered at fixed, tiered prices, ranging from simple tastings to full meals with both pasta and main courses, making the event accessible without compromising on ingredient quality.

A family-friendly event

The Baccalà Village in Sarno is designed for a day outdoors: free admission, free parking adjacent to the park, picnic areas to enjoy your food on the grass, and a 300-square-meter children's play area available at no extra cost. Evenings feature live music and entertainment, while on Sundays, the village is also open for lunch. It is one of the few food and wine events in the Sarno Valley where children have a dedicated space, allowing parents to relax and dine at their own pace.

The chef and the event's philosophy

Antonio Peluso proudly champions the journey of salt cod: from a humble peasant staple to a refined product capable of standing up to the finest cuisines. At the village, this vision translates into storytelling, live cooking demonstrations, guided tastings, and a constant dialogue with local producers—from crispy peppers and cherry tomatoes to Campanian olive oils and local craft beers. The traveling format has already visited various locations across the region—from the Caserta area to the Domitian coast, and from the archaeological site of Nocera Superiore to the Amalfi Coast—with Sarno establishing itself as a recurring stop that kicks off the summer season.

Sarno and the river valley

Sarno is a town of over thirty thousand inhabitants at the foot of the Picentini Mountains, at the northern edge of the province of Salerno, in a border area between the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese and the Vesuvius region. The city features a medieval castle overlooking the town, historic churches, and a deep connection to the spring water that has shaped its agricultural and industrial economy. A visit to the Parco Fluviale dei Cinque Sensi pairs perfectly with a walk through the historic center, a climb to the castle, or a detour to the archaeological sites and villages of the Agro, located just a few kilometers from Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.