Calata dell'Angelo (Sant'Erasmo Festival)

A centuries-old tradition in the Lattari Mountains

In the heart of the Lattari Mountains, halfway between the Agro Nocerino Sarnese and the Amalfi Coast, the small town of Corbara (Salerno province, Campania) has preserved one of the most striking religious re-enactments in Southern Italy for over 150 years: the Calata dell'Angelo (The Angel's Descent). Traditionally held on the third Sunday of July as part of the celebrations for Sant'Erasmo, the town's co-patron, the event draws pilgrims, curious onlookers, and visitors from across the region every year.

How the descent unfolds

At dusk, a performer dressed as an angel is secured within a steel ring and lowered along a cable starting from the courtyard of the Sant'Erasmo hermitage, which sits perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the stream. The descent covers about 100 meters of distance and a 150-meter drop down to the Rione Sala square. During the flight, the Angel pauses thirteen times: at each stop, he performs a «fronna»—a traditional devotional song to the Saint—while the crowd below watches in expectant silence. It is a powerful sight, even for those unfamiliar with the local tradition: for a few minutes, the entire town looks toward the sky.

Religious significance

The scene commemorates the angel who, according to hagiographic tradition, descended from heaven to save Saint Erasmus of Antioch from martyrdom in the 3rd century. The church overlooking the town has been dedicated to him since the 10th century and was later rebuilt in the 18th century; this is where the flight begins each year. The festivities extend beyond the descent to include liturgical celebrations and a solemn procession through the town streets, involving the entire community and local authorities. Corbara's primary patron saint remains Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, celebrated on August 24th.

The Corbarino tomato and the festival

For years, the re-enactment has been accompanied by the «Corbara e il Corbarino» festival, which reached its eighteenth edition in 2026. For two evenings, the Borgo Sala and the historic center's alleys are filled with food stalls dedicated to the Corbarino tomato, also known as «sponzillo»: a local variety with a small, pear-shaped berry and a characteristic bittersweet flavor, a symbol of Lattari agriculture and a Slow Food Presidium of Campanian cuisine.

• Spaghetti allo scarpariello
• Caponata and freselle with Corbarino tomatoes
• Sausage and tomato sandwiches
• Artisanal preserves, sauces, and peeled tomatoes
• Local wine and traditional peasant desserts

Folk music and atmosphere

The evenings are brought to life by Campanian folk music: tammorre, tarantellas, and traditional songs, with groups like Compagnia Paganese and Gli amici della tammorra folk performing in recent years. The 2025 slogan — «You eat, you dance, and you drink wine... tammorra, tarantella, and tomato» — perfectly captures the spirit of the festival: convivial, popular, and authentic.

Organizers

The Calata dell'Angelo is managed by the Sant'Erasmo festival committee in collaboration with the local parish; the selection of the young person who will wear the wings is a deeply felt moment for the community, celebrated with a symbolic handover of the wings at the start of summer. The food festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Corbara with the support of the Municipality of Corbara, the Slow Food Agro Nocerino Sarnese branch, and the UNPLI.

Why it's worth the trip

Corbara has just over 2,500 residents and sits at 167 meters above sea level, overlooking the valley toward the Sorrento Peninsula. Visitors arriving for the Calata will find a festival that wasn't built for tourism but warmly welcomes outsiders: an evening of popular devotion, a crowded square, the scent of tomatoes cooking in the stalls, and music that lasts late into the night.