Cicerchiamo

An ancient legume takes center stage

Cicerchiamo is the summer food and wine event that the village of Frigento, in the province of Avellino, dedicates to the grass pea (cicerchia). This rustic and resilient legume, which for centuries was a staple of the Irpinian peasant diet before being nearly forgotten, has returned to the spotlight in recent years thanks to the work of local producers. Rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, fiber, and B vitamins, the grass pea is now a symbol of agricultural biodiversity in inland Campania.

Where it takes place: Via Cedolone and the historic center

The heart of the festival is the historic Via Cedolone, located in the old town of Frigento, one of the most picturesque panoramic villages in Irpinia. Gastronomic stations, producer stalls, and music stages are spread along the route, turning the village streets into one long open-air dining table. The format follows the typical style of Campanian village festivals: you walk, you taste, you stop to listen to music, and then head to the next stall.

What to taste

The menu is built entirely around the grass pea, featured in dishes from appetizers to desserts. Highlights from previous editions include:

• traditional Irpinian grass pea soups and stews;
• grass pea served as a purée or as a side dish for local specialties;
• pan-cicerchia, a unique bread made from a blend of grains and legumes;
• creative desserts and dishes based on the same legume;
• Carmasciano cheese, another excellence of Irpinia, which pairs perfectly with the grass pea.

Alongside traditional dishes, there is also a street food area managed by quality Irpinian producers, featuring guided tastings and workshops designed to tell the story of the raw ingredients rather than just serving them.

Music, children, and village atmosphere

Cicerchiamo is more than just gastronomy: every evening is accompanied by live music featuring local artists, ranging from revivals and Latin American rhythms to folk sounds with the accordion. For families, there are dedicated areas for children with games, inflatables, and entertainment shows. It is the kind of festival to be enjoyed slowly, between a bite and a chat, with visitors arriving from neighboring towns in the province of Avellino and the rest of Campania.

A low-impact event

For years, the organizers have championed a clear choice: short supply chains and zero-kilometer sourcing, careful selection of producers, and a focus on the low environmental impact of the entire event. The collaboration with Slow Food strengthens this approach, making Cicerchiamo much more than a simple festival: it is a project to promote an identity-defining product and the small farms that continue to cultivate it.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Terra Mater Social Cooperative, a local entity committed to enhancing local production, with the support of the Frigento community and local associations. The Municipality of Frigento includes the event in its summer calendar, alongside the religious and patronal feasts that mark the village's year.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who come to Frigento for Cicerchiamo find two things together: peasant cuisine told with pride and an Irpinian village that lights up with voices and lights in the summer. It is a concrete opportunity to discover an ingredient that has become a rarity elsewhere, to meet the producers who grow it, and to understand why, in these hills, the grass pea is much more than a legume: it is a family memory.