Bruschettone and Scamorza with Porcini Mushrooms Festival

A festival born from the village youth

The Bruschettone and Scamorza with Porcini Mushrooms Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Castiglione del Genovesi, a small town of just over 1,300 inhabitants in the province of Salerno, Campania. It is organized by the Associazione Culturale Balliamo sul Monte, founded in 2016 to promote local territory and culinary culture. The local youth, supported by their families, set up the stalls, grill the bread, and serve at the tables: this is what makes the event a true community celebration rather than a commercial fair.

The bruschettone, the signature dish

The undisputed star is the bruschettone: a generous slice of rustic bread toasted over embers, drizzled with local extra virgin olive oil, and topped with ingredients typical of the Monti Picentini. Alongside it is the other specialty that gives the festival its name, the scamorza cheese melted with porcini mushrooms: a humble mountain dish that has become the main reason for the visit.

The evenings usually feature:

• The bruschettone in various versions, from the classic to the one with scamorza and porcini;
• The "caciocavallo impiccato" (hanged caciocavallo), melted over a flame and drizzled onto warm bread;
• Sweet bruschetta and zeppole to finish the meal;
• Wines and typical products from the Salerno hills.

The historic center transforms

For four nights, the streets and squares of the historic center become an open-air gastronomic trail: tables under the stars, stalls along the village, lights, and music. The food area generally opens from 8:00 PM, and the evenings continue with live music and performances by folk groups, with tarantellas and traditional dances lasting until late at night. Admission to the festival is free: you only pay for what you eat, directly at the stalls.

Castiglione del Genovesi, the home of Antonio Genovesi

The village stands at an altitude of 598 meters on the slopes of Monte Monna, within the Monti Picentini Regional Park, about fifteen minutes by car from Salerno. It owes its name to Antonio Genovesi, the philosopher and economist born here in 1713: his birthplace, including his study and his father's shoemaker workshop, can still be found in the historic center. Also worth visiting are the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria di Tubenna, the 14th-century church of San Bernardino da Siena, and the chapel of San Vito with its Renaissance frescoes, while the trails leading to the Pozzo di Venere and the summit of Monte Monna offer views that, on clear days, reach as far as Punta Licosa. Hazelnuts and chestnuts remain the most precious agricultural resources of these hills.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held in the last week of July, over four consecutive evenings. Recent editions took place from July 26 to 29, 2024, from July 25 to 28, 2025 (fifth edition), and from July 25 to 28, 2026.

Why it's worth the climb

Those arriving from Salerno or the coast will find a change in climate and landscape within just a few kilometers: in the evening, at this altitude, the air is cool even in the height of summer. The Bruschettone Festival is one of those events where food is not just a pretext but a story of the land, and where the entire village comes together to welcome visitors. A simple and sincere opportunity to discover the hinterland of the Picentini, too often overlooked in favor of more famous Campania destinations.