Carosa delle Pecore Festival

The 'carosa', an ancient pastoral rite brought back to life

In the local dialect of the Cilento countryside, the carosa refers to the sheep shearing process: the summer ritual that frees the animals from their fleece and begins the wool production cycle. In Campora, a small mountain town in the Province of Salerno, Campania, this rustic practice has become the heart of a festival that blends pastoral memory, craftsmanship, and mountain cuisine. The Carosa delle Pecore Festival takes place at the Nisio Recreational Area, a green space on the outskirts of the village, and is promoted by the Municipality of Campora in collaboration with the Pro Loco Campora Association.

This is no staged re-enactment: the shearing is performed by expert shearers who demonstrate real techniques and timing to the public, explaining why the 'carosa' is essential for both wool production and the animals' well-being during the hotter months. Families, curious visitors, farmers, and travelers from across the Cilento region gather to watch.

A day dedicated to the wool supply chain

Following the shearing, the festival continues with an immersive wool supply chain workshop, guiding participants through every stage of the traditional cycle:

• Shearing: the initial step to obtain raw fleece;
• Carding: detangling and aligning the fibers to prepare them for processing;
• Spinning: transforming the carded wool into yarn;
• Natural dyeing: using wild herbs and lichens to create a palette of colors derived entirely from local woods and pastures.

This is the most educational and engaging part of the program, allowing visitors to observe closely, ask questions, touch the wool in its various stages, and appreciate the labor involved in clothing production before the industrial era.

Craftsmanship, basketry, and folk music

Beyond wool, other traditional Cilento crafts are highlighted. The day includes exhibitions and mini-courses in basketry and wicker weaving, where local artisans guide visitors through the basics of an ancient, living technique. The atmosphere is set by folk music, which accompanies the demonstrations and turns the recreational area into an open-air square filled with tambourines, traditional songs, and dances.

The 'Pranzo della Carosa' lunch

The social highlight is the Pranzo della Carosa, served in the Nisio Recreational Area. Two menus are available, both priced at 25 euros per person: the first focuses on pastoral tradition, featuring 'cavati' pasta with sheep ragù, sheep meat, and local cheeses; the second offers an alternative with tomato pasta, veal stew, cheeses, and side dishes. Reservations are recommended and can be made by phone through the Pro Loco representatives.

Campora, the upper Calore, and the Cilento National Park

Campora has a few hundred inhabitants and stretches across the upper Calore Valley, in a landscape ranging from 380 to 900 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by one of the most extensive forest areas in the Salerno province, including beech, chestnut, and oak woods. The town is part of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site—a context that explains why pastoralism here is not just a folkloric memory, but a still-thriving activity.

Visitors arriving for the festival find much more than just an event: a quiet village, hiking trails and woods perfect for walks, and a mountain gastronomy rich in cheeses, cured meats, chestnuts, and handmade pasta.

Why it's worth attending

• You will witness authentic shearing performed by experts, not a staged performance.
• The wool workshop allows you to follow the entire cycle, from sheep to yarn dyed with herbs and lichens.
• Wicker craftsmanship and folk music provide an authentic portrait of Cilento's rural culture.
• The lunch is a rare opportunity to taste dishes seldom found in restaurants, such as 'cavati' with sheep ragù.
• Everything takes place outdoors, in a recreational area nestled in the greenery of the National Park.