Chocolate Eggplant Festival - A Mulignan

Two evenings dedicated to the Amalfi Coast's most unusual dessert

Every summer in Maiori, the eggplant transcends its role as a humble vegetable to become a decadent dessert. The Chocolate Eggplant Festival, which since 2014 has adopted the local dialect name A Mulignan - Gastronomic Theater dedicated to the Eggplant, has become one of the most representative events of the summer in the town of Maiori, in the province of Salerno, Campania. The 2026 edition takes place on August 7th and 8th in the Gardens of Palazzo Mezzacapo, with stands opening at 8:00 PM.

Chocolate eggplant, a De.Co. dessert

The festival's signature dish is chocolate eggplant, officially recognized as a De.Co. (Municipal Designation) product of Maiori. It consists of fried eggplant layered with melted chocolate, candied fruit, nuts, and liqueur, served chilled. For generations, this preparation was linked to the celebrations in honor of the patron saint Santa Maria a Mare, with every local family preparing their own version. The historic recipe is presented under the guidance of Nunzia Pastore, one of the primary guardians of this culinary tradition. In recent years, a gluten-free version has also been available.

The format: gastronomic theater

A Mulignan is not just a typical village festival. Conceived and organized by Antonio Del Pizzo based on a project launched in 2014, the event follows a gastronomic theater format: tastings are interspersed with live performances. The audience dines while prose, dance, and folk music unfold on stage, creating a journey that recounts the history, trades, and idioms of Maiori.

What to eat

Alongside the star dessert, the festival kitchen showcases all the savory variations of this purple vegetable, paired with other Amalfi Coast flavors. Past editions have featured dishes such as:

• eggplant panzanella with tomato and basil;
• fresh pasta with Mediterranean-style eggplant;
• cuzzetiello with meatballs and sautéed eggplant;
• ravioli stuffed with eggplant and ricotta;
• lemon granita and local limoncello to finish the meal.

A new addition for 2026 is pizza, featured for the first time alongside traditional dishes. Menus have been reorganized into three tiers to reduce waiting times at service points.

The Gardens of Palazzo Mezzacapo

Since 2025, the festival has been held in the Gardens of Palazzo Mezzacapo, Maiori's green oasis overlooking Corso Reginna, just steps from the seafront and the staircase of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare. The geometric flowerbeds, palm trees, and fountains provide a natural backdrop for the stage, allowing organizers to ensure a completely barrier-free path, accessible to visitors with mobility impairments.

Maiori and the Amalfi Coast

Maiori boasts the longest beach on the Amalfi Coast and preserves a historic center nestled between the Reginna stream and lemon-terraced hills. In August, the town experiences its peak season, bustling with the patronal feast, coastal tourists, and visitors arriving from Minori, Ravello, Amalfi, and Tramonti. A Mulignan fits into this calendar as the event that best captures the local home-cooking tradition: not restaurant fare, but authentic family recipes brought to the public square.

Visitor tips

• Stands open at 8:00 PM: arriving early helps avoid queues during peak hours.
• The SS163 Amalfitana road is very busy in August: consider using buses or sea connections.
• Entry to the area is free: you only pay for your chosen tasting menu.
• The event takes place outdoors in a garden: comfortable shoes are recommended.