Cardoncello Mushroom and Wild Boar Meat Festival

A festival dedicated to the cardoncello mushroom

The Cardoncello Mushroom and Wild Boar Meat Festival is one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of the autumn in Cassano delle Murge, a town in the province of Bari, in the heart of the Alta Murgia. The event celebrates the cardoncello, a wild mushroom that grows in the pastures and woods of the Murgia and is considered the king of local peasant cuisine, an undisputed symbol of the autumn season in Puglia.

Cardoncello and wild boar, stars of the table

During the festival, gastronomic stalls set up in the historic center offer numerous specialties based on cardoncello mushrooms prepared according to tradition: grilled, fried, preserved in oil, au gratin, or as a sauce for fresh pasta. Alongside the mushroom, the star is wild boar meat, presented as an expression of a sustainable bond between man, nature, and the gastronomy of the Murgia territory. Visitors can taste robust and authentic dishes, accompanied by local wines and typical products.

Through the alleys of the historic center

The festival takes place among the ancient alleys of the village and Piazza Garibaldi, the beating heart of the event. Along the route, you will find exhibitors with typical products, local crafts, and the flavors of the Alta Murgia, while roving live performances animate the streets, accompanying the public from one stall to another and creating a popular festive atmosphere that involves both residents and visitors.

The 'Cardoncello on the Road' circuit

The Cassano delle Murge festival is part of the Cardoncello on the Road circuit, a series of events that crosses several Murgia towns, dedicating a stop in each to honor the cardoncello mushroom. The 2025 edition visited Poggiorsini, Minervino Murge, Spinazzola, Ruvo di Puglia, and Gravina in Puglia, with Cassano delle Murge closing the route. The initiative, promoted by local Pro Loco associations under the UNPLI umbrella, highlights the food and wine excellence and popular traditions of the Apulian hinterland.

A community event

Organized by the UNPLI La Murgianella Association, the festival represents a moment of strong identity for the Cassano community, capable of uniting gastronomy, folklore, and the promotion of the natural heritage of the Alta Murgia. An ideal opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of inland Puglia and experience the hospitality of a Murgia village during the autumn season.