Bontà di Bufala Festival

A week dedicated to the white gold of the Piana del Sele

The Bontà di Bufala Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Matinella, a bustling village in the municipality of Albanella, in the province of Salerno, located in the heart of the Piana del Sele near the Cilento region. For over twenty-five years, during the first half of August, Piazza Martiri del Lavoro has transformed into a grand gastronomic village dedicated to Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO and all the products derived from local buffalo farms: ricotta, cheeses, yogurt, and meats.

The event is organized by the MatinelProm association, led by Luigi Cantalupo, under the patronage of the Municipality of Albanella. In June 2026, the festival was presented in Rome at Palazzo Madama during the 'Buffalo, Territory and Development' conference: a recognition that highlights how a local village festival has evolved into a powerful tool for promoting the entire Campanian buffalo supply chain and local food and wine tourism.

The 26th edition: August 8–14, 2026

In 2026, the festival reaches its twenty-sixth edition, taking place from Saturday, August 8 to Friday, August 14, featuring seven consecutive nights of tastings and performances in the square. The successful formula remains unchanged: food stalls managed by association volunteers, a central stage with nightly live music, and a festive village atmosphere that attracts visitors from across the Piana del Sele, Cilento, and the coastal towns. New for this year, the festival introduces dancing fountains as a scenic evening attraction.

The menu: buffalo in all its forms

The true star is the local product, served fresh. The festival menu features:

• Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO, bocconcini, ricotta, and buffalo yogurt;
• Fusilli with buffalo ragù, the festival's signature pasta dish;
• Buffalo brisket and stew, cooked according to traditional rural recipes;
• Buffalo sausage, burgers, and veal steaks with french fries;
• Eggplant parmigiana with buffalo mozzarella;
• Wine, water, and traditional local desserts.

It is the perfect synthesis of Piana del Sele cuisine: simple, zero-mile ingredients processed by local farms and dairies.

Music, cabaret, and dancing under the stars

Every evening, the stage in Piazza Martiri del Lavoro hosts a diverse program curated by artistic director Maestro Ivano De Simone: ballroom orchestras, Cilento folk and tarantella groups, Neapolitan music bands, 70s, 80s, and 90s DJ sets, and comedy cabaret shows. The event also features Latin American dancing, majorettes, and activities for families and children. Admission to the square is free; you only pay for what you consume at the stalls.

Taste and solidarity

A distinctive feature of the Bontà di Bufala Festival is its commitment to charity: a portion of the proceeds is always donated to charitable causes. Over the years, the MatinelProm association has funded school supplies for local institutes, community building renovations, and direct aid to families in need. The festival is, therefore, a major volunteer effort involving dozens of local residents.

Matinella, Albanella, and the Piana del Sele

Albanella is a hillside town in the province of Salerno, Campania, overlooking the Piana del Sele and just a few kilometers from the Paestum archaeological site. Matinella, its largest village, lies on the plains along the roads connecting the coast to inner Cilento: a land of buffalo, artichokes, and vegetables, where buffalo farming has been the primary economic activity for decades. Attending the festival means not only eating well but also gaining a firsthand understanding of how one of Italy's most famous food products is made.