Cùntarìa - Rural Imaginary Festival (Stories and Joy)

Cùntarìa, the festival that gives a voice back to ancient Cilento

Cùntarìa - Rural Imaginary Festival is the signature event of Stella Cilento, a village of just over seven hundred inhabitants perched at an altitude of 386 meters in the heart of ancient Cilento, in the province of Salerno (Campania). The name comes from cunto, the art of oral storytelling that has guarded the fairy tales, ballads, rituals, and memories of rural communities in Southern Italy for centuries. The festival was born from this very idea: that storytelling is not just a secondary form of entertainment, but a tool through which a community changes the way it views itself and the land it inhabits.

A village that becomes a widespread stage

During the festival evenings, the historic center of Stella Cilento is completely reimagined: hay bales are placed along the alleys, long communal tables are set up outdoors, and decorations inspired by the rural world fill the squares. There is no single stage: the audience wanders, stops to listen to a cunto under an archway, and continues on to find a folk music group or a street theater performance. This unique formula has made Cùntarìa recognizable far beyond the municipal borders.

Storytellers, folk music, theater, and art

The program blends different styles, from oral tradition to contemporary experimentation:

• Cunti and storytelling performed by local narrators, actors, and storytellers;
• Cilento and Southern Italian folk music, featuring tarantellas, ballads, and evening concerts;
• Street theater, rituals, and traditional games along the village alleys;
• Workshops and activities for families and children, featuring local traditional fairy tales;
• Book presentations, exhibitions, and art installations linked to the theme chosen for each edition.

Each recent edition is built around a narrative theme that guides the performances, the poster design, and the decorations: in 2025, for example, the central theme was The Submerged Kingdom, inspired by the siren Leucosia and the La Pietra del Mulacchio dolmen.

The Taverns of Cùntarìa

The gastronomic aspect is not just a side note, but an integral part of the narrative. Every evening, from early on, the Taverns of Cùntarìa open their doors. The families of Stella Cilento share their culinary traditions by setting up communal tables in the streets, with each family preparing a specific dish or product they are the guardians of. Visitors eat shoulder-to-shoulder, pairing Cilento dishes with local wines, while stories, songs, and dances continue until late at night.

A grassroots event

Cùntarìa is organized by the Pro Loco of Stella Cilento in collaboration with the Cùntarìa association and the Municipality of Stella Cilento, with the involvement of the Youth Forum and local volunteer groups. It is a fully community-driven festival model: the setup, cooking, hospitality, and organization are all handled by the residents, and for many who have moved away, it is the highlight that marks their summer return to the village.

From 2017 to today

The first edition took place in 2017 in the main square of Stella Cilento, centered around the 'Tree of the Feast' and the 'Rota della Cùntarìa', featuring shared stories, music, food, wine, and local crafts. Since then, the festival has grown every year: the seventh edition was held in 2024 (August 1-4), the eighth in 2025 (August 19-24), and the ninth is set for August 18-23, 2026.

Stella Cilento and its surroundings

The village is located on the slopes of Mount Stella, from which it takes its name, and includes the hamlets of Amalafede, Droro, Guarrazzano, and San Giovanni. We are in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, just a few kilometers from the coast of Casal Velino and Ascea. Those visiting for the festival can easily combine a trip to the sea, hillside villages, and archaeological sites like Velia. It is one more reason to consider Cùntarìa not just an evening event, but a gateway to an authentic piece of Campania.