Caciocavallo Impiccato Festival
Sannio's signature cheese grilled over embers, at an altitude of 610 metres
About Caciocavallo Impiccato
The festival of the Sannio region's most beloved cheese
In San Marco ai Monti, a small mountain hamlet in the municipality of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo, in the province of Benevento, summer has a fixed appointment: the Caciocavallo Impiccato Festival. It is a single evening, usually held between late July and early August, when the entire village gathers around the grills and stoves to celebrate the dairy product that gives the festival its name. In 2026, the event reaches its fourteenth edition, scheduled for Saturday, August 1st.
This is not a massive event with thousands of seats; it is a local village feast with open-air tables, families taking turns behind the counters, and visitors coming up from the Sabato Valley for a unique dinner. This is precisely why, over the last dozen years, it has become one of the most well-known food festivals in the hilly belt of Benevento.
What is 'caciocavallo impiccato'?
The name, curious and somewhat theatrical, describes how the cheese is served: the wheel of caciocavallo is tied by its 'neck' and hung over glowing embers; as the heat melts it, the gooey heart is scraped onto slices of bread. It is a dish to be eaten immediately, still steaming, while standing next to the fire—a convivial gesture that captures the essence of the Campania hinterland's food festivals better than any other.
At the San Marco ai Monti festival, the caciocavallo comes exclusively from local farms and dairies in the Sannio region: a deliberate choice by the organizers that ties the event to the dairy supply chain of the Benevento hills, effectively turning it into a showcase for the territory.
The evening's menu
- Caciocavallo impiccato melted over embers and served on bread, the festival's signature dish
- Fusilli with sauce tossed with caciocavallo, the house specialty pasta
- Grilled sausage and pancetta, sausage and hot dog sandwiches
- French fries
- Various traditional local desserts
- Local Sannio wine to accompany the entire culinary journey
Music and village atmosphere
The evening is enlivened by live music: in past editions, local bands and groups have performed, with folk and dance repertoires that keep the village square buzzing until late. Entry to the festival area is free; you only pay for what you consume at the stands.
A festival that supports the community
The Caciocavallo Impiccato Festival is organized by the Parish of San Marco Evangelista, with the support of the local Pro Loco and the collaboration of the Municipality of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo. The proceeds from the event are donated by the parish to social and charitable initiatives: a detail that perfectly explains the spirit of the event, where gastronomy coexists with the religious and civil life of the community.
San Marco ai Monti, a village at 610 metres
San Marco ai Monti has just over two hundred inhabitants and is located at an altitude of approximately 610 metres, on the ridges that close the municipal territory of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo to the south. From here, the view stretches over the hills of the Sannio, and it is also thanks to the cooler climate of the August evenings that the festival has found its audience: while the plains suffer from the heat, in the village you can dine outdoors without the humidity.
Sant'Angelo a Cupolo is a short distance from Benevento, making the festival an easy evening trip for those staying in the city or visiting the interior of Campania, between the Santa Sofia complex in Benevento, the wineries of the Sannio, and the villages of the Telesina Valley.
Previous editions
- 2023 — tenth edition, over two evenings, July 28th and 29th
- 2024 — eleventh edition, Saturday, July 27th, from 7:30 PM, free entry
- 2025 — thirteenth edition, Friday, August 1st, from 8:00 PM to approximately 11:00 PM
- 2026 — fourteenth edition, Saturday, August 1st
Tips for your visit
It is best to arrive early: the road leading up to the hamlet is narrow and parking spaces in the village are limited, as are the tables. Bringing a light sweater is a good idea, because at 610 metres, the temperature drops significantly in the evening. The full program—including times and religious events linked to the festival—is published by the parish and the Municipality in the days leading up to the event.
Caciocavallo Impiccato — edition 2026
2026 Edition: The Fourteenth
The return of the Caciocavallo Impiccato Festival has been announced for Saturday, August 1st, 2026, in San Marco ai Monti, in the Municipality of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo (Benevento). This is the fourteenth edition of a festival that the Parish of San Marco Evangelista dedicates to one of the most beloved typical products of the Sannio region, with the proven formula of a single evening: taste, tradition, and conviviality.
The caciocavallo served at the festival comes from exclusively Sannio-based farms and dairies. Alongside the signature dish, the food stands offer fusilli with sauce tossed with caciocavallo, sausage and hot dog sandwiches, french fries, and various types of desserts, all accompanied by local wine. The evening is enlivened by a musical show.
As per tradition, the proceeds from the event are donated by the parish to social and charitable initiatives. The detailed program of religious and civil events, including times, is distributed by the organizers and published by the Municipality in the days immediately preceding the festival.
Programme Caciocavallo Impiccato 2026
Highlights Caciocavallo Impiccato 2026
- Fourteenth edition, Saturday, August 1st, 2026, single evening
- Caciocavallo impiccato melted over embers and served on bread
- Cheese from exclusively Sannio-based farms and dairies
- Fusilli with sauce tossed with caciocavallo, sausage and hot dogs, french fries, desserts
- Local Sannio wine
- Live musical show
- Free entry; proceeds go to social and charitable initiatives
- Cool evenings at 610 metres, a few kilometres from Benevento
Prices Caciocavallo Impiccato 2026
Practical information — Caciocavallo Impiccato
How to get there
By car — San Marco ai Monti is a hilly hamlet of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo (BN), reachable from Benevento via the provincial roads that climb towards the ridges south of the provincial capital. The final stretch is a mountain road, narrow and winding: drive with caution, especially when returning in the evening.
By train — the reference station is Benevento Centrale; from there, continue by car or local bus lines connecting to Sant'Angelo a Cupolo. In the evening, public transport service is very limited: it is better to arrange a car or taxi for the return trip.
By plane — the most convenient airport is Naples Capodichino, about an hour and a half away by car.
Parking
Parking is available along the village streets and in the open spaces near the festival area. Spaces are limited: arriving a little early before the stands open is the best strategy.
Costs
Free entry to the festival area. Dishes and drinks are purchased at the food stands managed by volunteers; it is advisable to carry cash, as is customary at village festivals. Proceeds go to the social and charitable initiatives of the Parish of San Marco Evangelista.
Where to stay
There are no accommodation facilities in the hamlet: the selection of hotels, B&Bs, and agriturismi is concentrated in Benevento and the surrounding municipalities, all within a few kilometres.
Tips
- Bring a light sweater: at 610 metres, August evenings are cool.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as the village is on a slope.
- Check the schedule and program on the Municipality of Sant'Angelo a Cupolo website or the Pro Loco social media channels in the days prior.
- Event suitable for families, with simple dishes that children will also enjoy.
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Where does it take place — Caciocavallo Impiccato
Frazione San Marco ai Monti