Briganti e Vino - Brigandage Festival
Open cellars, historical re-enactments, and the flavors of the Alto Casertano in the village of Piccilli
About Briganti e Vino
Briganti e Vino: when the village of Piccilli steps back in time
Briganti e Vino - Brigandage Festival, also known in local chronicles as the Brigands and Wine Festival, is the summer event that brings the village of Piccilli to life. Located in the Municipality of Tora e Piccilli, in the Province of Caserta, in the hinterland of Campania, the historic center transforms for one night into an emotional journey where history, wine, and folk tradition intertwine along narrow alleys, stone staircases, and ancient doorways. The setting is the village itself, with its cellars carved directly beneath the houses.
Cellar doors open to the public
The main theme of the event is the ancient cellars of the village, which open their doors for the occasion. Walking through the heart of Piccilli, guided by enticing aromas, visitors encounter tasting counters featuring the best local wineries, paired with the rustic flavors of Alto Casertano cuisine. It is the most direct way to discover small-scale viticulture, defined by vineyards on the volcanic soils of Roccamonfina and families who have passed down their craft for generations. Toasting under the stars in the squares of the historic center is the most anticipated moment of the evening.
The re-enactment of brigandage
The identity of the festival lies in its costumed historical re-enactment dedicated to the brigands. The lands of the Alto Casertano, bordering the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Papal States, were one of the most intense settings for post-unification brigandage: forests, caves, and mountain paths offered shelter to bands that popular memory has transformed into legendary figures, half-outlaw and half-rebel. The festival recovers that memory with actors in period costumes, scenes performed in the alleys, folk songs, and traditional shows that fascinate both adults and children.
Music, folklore, and a vintage atmosphere
The re-enactment is accompanied by Neapolitan music, traditional songs, and folklore performances, with lighter, danceable moments designed for younger audiences. The format is that of a "diffused festival": not a single stage, but successive stops along the path, allowing visitors to discover the village while walking and stopping wherever they prefer.
Crafts and local products
- Local craft stalls along the route in the historic center
- Local products and gastronomic specialties of the Alto Casertano
- Guided tastings in the historic cellars opened for the occasion
- Wines from local producers, including Terre di Tora and the Telaro winery of Galluccio
In the Roccamonfina Park, between woods and the Ciampate del Diavolo
Piccilli is located within the Roccamonfina - Foce Garigliano Regional Park, a protected area created around one of the oldest extinct volcanoes in Campania. A short distance from the village lies one of the most well-known paleontological sites in Europe, the Ciampate del Diavolo: fossilized human footprints imprinted in the pyroclastic rock of Roccamonfina, which popular tradition attributed to the devil's passage because no one could explain their origin. During the festival, guided excursions to the Bosco degli Zingari and the site itself are available by reservation, allowing visitors to combine nature, prehistory, and wine culture in a single day.
A showcase for the region
In recent years, the event has also taken on a role in economic promotion. The 2026 edition hosted an institutional meeting on the theme "The value of the territory: wine and local excellence facing the global market challenge with the Federitaly 100% Made in Italy Certification," featuring Mayor Vincenzo D'Agostino, Federitaly Campania President Simona Fracasso, producer Francesco Del Vecchio of Terre di Tora, and journalist Domenico Letizia. On the same occasion, a twinning between two local wine producers was announced. The municipal administration collaborates with the Roccamonfina Regional Park, the Mountain Community, local associations, businesses, the Civil Protection, and numerous volunteers.
Why it's worth the trip
Briganti e Vino is a village-scale festival, free and welcoming, which in just a few hours provides a complete portrait of the Alto Casertano: the wine, the 19th-century history, home-style cooking, and the volcanic landscape. For those visiting Campania off the beaten tourist path, it is a rare opportunity.
Briganti e Vino — edition 2026
2026 Edition: record attendance
The 2026 edition of Briganti e Vino took place on Saturday, July 4 in the village of Piccilli, a hamlet of Tora e Piccilli (Caserta), starting at 5:30 PM. Local reports spoke of a record turnout of visitors and a day that transformed the town into the capital of folklore, history, and the wine excellence of the Alto Casertano.
The route wound through the doors of the historic cellars opened to the public, with guided tastings of wines from local companies, food and wine stops, exhibitions, and craft stalls. The historical re-enactment of local brigands, with costumed actors, was the most followed moment, accompanied by folk songs, Neapolitan music, and folklore, and a more danceable finale dedicated to the younger audience. The guest of honor for the evening was the Pupatella.
The program also included an institutional meeting titled "The value of the territory: wine and local excellence facing the global market challenge with the Federitaly 100% Made in Italy Certification," with Mayor Vincenzo D'Agostino, Simona Fracasso (Federitaly Campania), producer Francesco Del Vecchio of Terre di Tora, and journalist Domenico Letizia, as well as the announcement of a twinning between the Terre di Tora and Telaro producers. The day was completed by a "charity match" between the teams of Marzano Appio and Tora e Piccilli and guided excursions to the Bosco degli Zingari and the Ciampate del Diavolo. The organization involved the municipal administration, the Roccamonfina Regional Park, the Mountain Community, Federitaly, the Civil Protection, local associations, and town volunteers.
Programme Briganti e Vino 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- In the afternoon — guided excursions to the Bosco degli Zingari and the Ciampate del Diavolo paleontological site (by reservation at +39 371 4637085 and +39 327 0081969)
- From 5:30 PM — opening of the route in the historic center of Piccilli: the doors of the ancient cellars open to the public
- Open cellars — tasting counters with wines from the best local wineries (including Terre di Tora and the Telaro winery of Galluccio) and tastings of peasant traditions
- Historical re-enactment of brigandage — costumed actors tell the deeds and stories of the brigands of the Alto Casertano among alleys and squares
- Folk songs, Neapolitan music, and traditional shows along the route
- Guest of honor: the Pupatella, with moments of joy and entertainment
- Stalls of local crafts, typical products, and gastronomic specialties
- Conference "The value of the territory: wine and local excellence facing the global market challenge with the Federitaly 100% Made in Italy Certification" — with Mayor Vincenzo D'Agostino, Simona Fracasso (Federitaly Campania President), Francesco Del Vecchio (Terre di Tora), and Domenico Letizia (Federitaly Press Office)
- "Charity match" between the teams of Marzano Appio and Tora e Piccilli
- In the evening — dance music for the younger audience, until the end of the event
Highlights Briganti e Vino 2026
- The doors of the ancient cellars of Piccilli opened to the public for one night
- The costumed historical re-enactment dedicated to the brigands of the Alto Casertano
- Tastings of wines from Terre di Tora and the Telaro winery, with the twinning announced during the event
- Guest of honor the Pupatella and traditional shows among the alleys
- Guided excursions to the Bosco degli Zingari and the Ciampate del Diavolo, in the Roccamonfina Park
- A record turnout of visitors, with the appointment already confirmed for the following year
Prices Briganti e Vino 2026
Practical information — Briganti e Vino
Where it takes place
Historic center of Piccilli, a hamlet of Tora e Piccilli (ZIP 81044), Province of Caserta, Campania, within the Roccamonfina - Foce Garigliano Regional Park.
How to get there
A car is the most practical means of transport: the village is located in the Alto Casertano hinterland, on the slopes of the extinct Roccamonfina volcano, and public transport connections are limited, especially in the evening. It is advisable to arrive well before the start of the event, as parking spaces in the village are limited.
Hours and admission
The festival takes place over a single evening, starting in the late afternoon (from 5:30 PM in the 2026 edition) and continuing until the end of the event. Admission to the village and the festival is free: you only pay for tastings and consumption at the cellars and stalls.
Guided excursions
Excursions to the Bosco degli Zingari and the Ciampate del Diavolo are available by reservation at +39 371 4637085 and +39 327 0081969. Trekking shoes and water are recommended.
Practical tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: the route winds through alleys, staircases, and stone paths
- Bring a light jacket: in the hills, the evening cools down even in mid-summer
- The event is family-friendly; the brigand re-enactment is very popular with children
- For overnight stays, you can base yourself in Roccamonfina, Teano, or Sessa Aurunca, all within a short distance
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