Banzanese Potato Festival with Porcini Mushrooms and Montoro Copper Onion

A festival rooted in local identity

The Banzanese Potato Festival with Porcini Mushrooms and Montoro Copper Onion is one of the most deeply-rooted gastronomic events of the Irpinian summer. It takes place in the village of Banzano, in the municipality of Montoro (Avellino Province, Campania), and revolves around a tuber that is more than just an ingredient here—it is a mark of identity: the Banzanese potato, cultivated on the slopes of the Picentini Mountains since the late 18th century and now recognized with the De.Co. (Municipal Designation of Origin) status.

The unique microclimate and the rich soil of the hills separating the Irno Valley from Irpinia give this potato a firm texture and a distinct flavor that holds up well to slow cooking. Since 2002, the Pro Loco Banzano has built a village festival around this raw material that, edition after edition, has grown beyond provincial borders.

The menu: tegamino, porcini, and copper onion

The festival's signature dish is the tegamino dell'abbondanza, prepared with Banzanese potatoes, sausage, provola cheese, and porcini mushrooms: a dish humble in its origins but generous in substance, served steaming hot at the Piazza del Popolo stalls. Alongside it, the rest of Montoro's cuisine takes center stage, weaving together three local excellences:

• the De.Co. Banzanese potato, the star of both traditional recipes and creative reinterpretations;
• porcini mushrooms from the surrounding woods, which arrive on tables at the start of summer;
• the Montoro copper onion, sweet and with a characteristic bronze color, one of the most renowned products of the Irno Valley.

In recent years, the Pro Loco has also set up a gluten-free stand so that celiac visitors can enjoy the same dining experience. The stalls open in the evening and remain active until late at night.

Music, culture, and community

The festival is about more than just gastronomy. Each evening features live entertainment in the square: Campanian folk music groups, dance orchestras, tribute bands, and local acts take the stage, drawing a crowd that mixes residents, emigrants returning for the summer, and visitors from Avellino and Salerno.

The program also includes a thematic seminar dedicated to agriculture and the promotion of local products, a photo contest, and various cultural and recreational activities designed for children. The event is sponsored by the Municipality of Montoro and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry.

The Pro Loco Banzano

Behind the festival lies the work of an entirely volunteer-run association. The Pro Loco Banzano, led by president Amerigo Maffei, enlivens the village calendar throughout the year with events like Notti alle Fontane, Christmas initiatives, and summer sports activities. However, the late-summer festival remains the event that brings the entire community together more than any other: kitchens, table service, setup, and hospitality are all handled by members and volunteers.

Banzano, Montoro, and Irpinia

Montoro is a municipality created in 2013 from the merger of Montoro Superiore and Montoro Inferiore, located at the western edge of the Avellino Province in an agricultural basin nestled between the Picentini Mountains and the Solofra Mountains. Banzano is one of its hillside hamlets, featuring stone houses, historic fountains, and countryside still cultivated with potatoes and vegetables.

For those visiting inland Campania, the festival is an easy way to experience a true Irpinian village feast: eating at long communal tables, enjoying affordable prices, and almost always ending the evening with dancing in the square. Nearby, Solofra is worth a stop for its tanning tradition and the collegiate church of San Michele Arcangelo, as well as the trails of the Picentini Mountains Regional Park.

When it takes place

Historically, the festival has been held between the second half of August and, in more recent editions, spanning the end of July and the first days of August. The 21st edition took place from July 31 to August 3, 2025. The dates for the following edition are usually announced by the Pro Loco Banzano on their social media channels in the weeks leading up to the event; it is advisable to check before traveling.