Cucina Clandestina

A village turned into a kitchen

Cucina Clandestina takes place in the historic center of Valle dell'Angelo, in the province of Salerno, at the foot of Mount Cervati, the highest peak in Campania. For three nights in August, the village's narrow streets and alleys are filled with stalls, tables, and stoves: it is the residents themselves, together with the VOJTO cultural association, who cook and serve traditional dishes. The event's name reflects this concept: a cuisine born not in restaurants but in homes, passed down through generations and brought out into the streets for a special occasion.

The VOJTO association and its origins

The festival originated around the Osteria La Piazzetta, run by Alì and Carmela Coccaro, and later became a project of the VOJTO cultural association, which works to promote the village's agricultural, artistic, and social heritage. The first editions date back to the 2010s—with an edition documented as early as 2013, held on August 11th, 12th, and 13th—and since then, the event has been held regularly, supported by the municipal administration and, in its early seasons, by the Slow Food network.

What to eat

The hallmark of the event is Cilento's gastronomic biodiversity: simple recipes, local ingredients, and few concessions to showy, modern cuisine. Among the dishes featured in recent editions:

• parmarieddi, a local specialty of peasant tradition;
• ricotta meatballs;
• veal salad;
• locally produced cured meats and cheeses;
• traditional desserts prepared in the village;
• local wines to accompany the tastings.

In past editions, the itinerary also included workshops dedicated to the Mediterranean diet, managed directly by the residents, who demonstrated the preparation of typical dishes to visitors.

Music in the square

Each evening features a musical performance in Piazza Canonico Iannuzzi, the hub of village life. Over the years, various groups from the Cilento and Campania scenes have performed—from acoustic ensembles to folk bands and jazz projects—with concerts continuing late into the night. This is the moment when the village, which has just over a hundred residents, becomes crowded with visitors arriving from neighboring towns and the coast.

Valle dell'Angelo, the smallest municipality in Campania

With a population hovering around one hundred, Valle dell'Angelo is the least populous municipality in the region. It is located in the hinterland of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, in the Calore Valley, an area of forests, springs, and hiking trails leading toward Mount Cervati. This very marginality is the essence of the event: for three days a year, a village at risk of depopulation returns to being a place full of people, scents, and voices.

The «Terre ritrovate» project

In recent editions, Cucina Clandestina has been included in the «Terre ritrovate – I viaggi delle radici nella Valle del Calore» (Rediscovered Lands – Journeys of Roots in the Calore Valley) project, funded under the cohesion agreement of the Campania Region (CIPESS resolution no. 70/2024, cultural thematic area). The goal stated by the administrators is to build a genuine tourism system that involves not only Valle dell'Angelo but all the municipalities in the valley, enhancing the hospitality and dining facilities established in recent years.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally scheduled around mid-August, in the days leading up to Ferragosto: many editions have taken place on August 11th, 12th, and 13th, with tasting routes opening in the early evening. Visitors from out of town can combine their visit with other summer events in the village, such as the VDA Music Potlatch, and a day of hiking in the Cervati forests.