Bracigliano Cherry Festival — National Cherry Festival
The local Spernocchia cherry takes center stage with tastings, orchard tours, and the National Cherry Festival
About Cherry Festival
Bracigliano, the valley of cherries
Nestled at the foot of Mount Piesco, in the hinterland of the province of Salerno and just a few kilometers from the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area, the town of Bracigliano is known throughout Campania as «the valley of cherries». Every year, when the fruit reaches full ripeness in mid-June, the village transforms into the Italian capital of cherries, opening the doors of its historic center to visitors, producers, and researchers.
The Spernocchia, queen of the festival
The absolute star of the event is the Spernocchia braciglianese, a local variety with firm flesh and a sweet, intense flavor, considered one of the best Italian cherries. Its cultivation, practiced on hillside terraces tended by generations of Bracigliano families, represents much more than an agricultural resource: it is an element of collective identity and a concrete lever for economic and tourism development for the entire area.
A local festival and a national celebration
The Bracigliano Cherry Festival also hosts the National Cherry Festival, an event promoted by the National Association of Cherry Cities that brings together cherry-growing municipalities from all over Italy. This dual track makes the event both a village fair and a national showcase: alongside the stands and music, there is space for the association's assembly, technical-scientific conferences, and the competition that crowns the most beautiful and delicious cherry in Italy, with entries coming from numerous regions.
Conferences, research, and innovation
A distinctive feature of the festival is its link with the University of Salerno: the conferences hosted at Palazzo De Simone bring together professors, technicians, Slow Food representatives, and producers to discuss innovative cultivation techniques, plant disease monitoring, short supply chains, certified quality, and the integration of agriculture and slow tourism. This is not just an academic backdrop, but the heart of the project with which Bracigliano aims to transform its agricultural vocation into a stable economy and a recognizable tourism offering.
Tastings and street food
The evenings come alive around the food stands set up at Palazzo De Simone and in the square of the Church of San Giovanni. In addition to fresh cherries, you can taste:
- cured meats and cheeses from local farms;
- traditional Campania peasant dishes;
- cherry jams and preserves;
- local honey and extra virgin olive oil;
- cherry-based desserts and liqueurs;
- street food options designed for young people and families.
Guided tours of the cherry orchards
Guided tours of the cherry orchards are one of the most appreciated experiences: you walk among the rows laden with fruit, accompanied by producers who explain grafting, pruning, and the strictly manual harvesting process. The program also includes walks in the historic center, with stops at churches and catacombs, and a cycling tour along the scenic routes of the cherry-growing hills. Tours are available by reservation.
Atmosphere and audience
Admission is free and the atmosphere is typical of Campania village festivals: families, live music, a town band, square performances, and word-of-mouth that brings hundreds of visitors to Bracigliano from Salerno, Naples, and the surrounding provinces. First-time visitors discover a village in the Campania region that is off the beaten path of mass tourism, where the harvest season still marks the rhythm of the community's calendar.
Cherry Festival — edition 2026
Three days as the cherry capital
With the slogan «Our cherry, our passion», from June 12 to 14, 2026, Bracigliano brought together administrators, researchers, producers, and visitors around the Spernocchia braciglianese. The formula alternated technical sessions at Palazzo De Simone and festive evenings in the square of the Church of San Giovanni, with stands opening at 6:00 PM.
Research, tourism, and awards
The focus was on innovative cultivation techniques, new monitoring technologies for preventing plant diseases, and the integration of agriculture, tourism, and regional promotion. The 27th National Competition featured 29 entries from 15 Italian regions: the title of «Cherry of Italy 2026» went to the Spernocchia braciglianese from the Azienda Agricola Ferrentino Alfonso, while the award for the most beautiful cherry was given to the Società Agricola Bracigliano Natura, and the award for the most delicious went to a farm in Savignano sul Panaro, in the province of Modena. A special «Host Municipality» award was presented to Chiusa Sclafani, in the province of Palermo.
A showcase for the region
The event was attended by the Vice President of the Campania Region, Fulvio Bonavitacola, and the Regional Councilor for Agriculture, Maria Carmela Serluca, who in the closing ceremony highlighted the strategic importance of cherry growing for the regional agricultural economy and the role of research, innovation, and generational turnover.
Programme Cherry Festival 2026
Friday, June 12
- From 6:00 PM — opening of the gastronomic routes at Palazzo De Simone and in the square of the Church of San Giovanni: local products, tastings, and street food.
- 6:30 PM, Palazzo De Simone — technical-scientific conference «Identity and development: the cherry tree as an engine for local tourism», in collaboration with the University of Salerno, DIFARMA Department. Speakers include Mayor Giovanni Iuliano, Vice President of the Campania Region Fulvio Bonavitacola, President of the National Association of Cherry Cities Ferdinando Albano, university professors, representatives of Slow Food Agro Nocerino-Sarnese, and cherry industry producers.
- In the evening — concert by the Grande Banda Città di Bracigliano conducted by Maestro Carmine Santaniello.
Saturday, June 13
- Morning and afternoon — guided tours of the cherry orchards and the historic center, with stops at churches, catacombs, and the main points of interest in the village.
- Afternoon, Palazzo De Simone — national assembly of the «Cherry Cities of Italy» Association.
- Evening — tastings of local products in the square of the Church of San Giovanni, with live music and performances.
Sunday, June 14
- Morning — cycling tour along a scenic route through the cherry-growing areas and further guided walks in the village.
- Palazzo De Simone — 27th National Competition «The Most Beautiful and Delicious Cherry in Italy», with the participation of regional agricultural officials and directors of national fruit and vegetable markets.
- Evening — closing party in the square of the Church of San Giovanni with performances, tastings, and awards ceremony.
Orchard tours by reservation: Mimmo +39 327 066 8055, Francesco +39 320 854 1647.
Highlights Cherry Festival 2026
- The Spernocchia braciglianese, the symbolic variety of the territory, available for fresh tasting and in sweet preparations.
- The 27th National Competition «The Most Beautiful and Delicious Cherry in Italy», with 29 entries from 15 regions.
- The conference with the University of Salerno on cherry trees, identity, and local tourism.
- The concert by the Grande Banda Città di Bracigliano.
- Guided tours of the cherry orchards and the Sunday morning scenic cycling tour.
- The street food and local products route open every evening from 6:00 PM.
Prices Cherry Festival 2026
Practical information — Cherry Festival
How to get there
Bracigliano (Postal Code 84082) is located in the province of Salerno, in the Campania region. By car, take the A30 Caserta-Salerno motorway and exit at Castel San Giorgio or Mercato San Severino, or the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway and exit at Nocera Inferiore, then continue along the provincial roads towards the town. The most convenient train station is Mercato San Severino, on the Salerno-Avellino line, about ten kilometers away; the reference airport is Naples-Capodichino.
Where it takes place
The events are concentrated at Palazzo De Simone and in the square of the Church of San Giovanni, in the historic center. It is advisable to park along the roads leading into the town and walk to the festival area.
Costs and reservations
Admission is free for all events. Tastings and dishes at the stands are paid for individually. Guided tours of the cherry orchards are free but require reservation using the contact details provided by the organizers.
Tips
The evenings kick off around 6:00 PM: arriving early helps you find parking more easily. Wear comfortable shoes for walking through the cherry orchards and bring a light jacket for the evening, as the temperature in the hills drops quickly after sunset.
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