Earth Day in Santa Paolina

A village-scale Earth Day

The Earth Day event in Santa Paolina is the Irpinian take on the global celebration: no massive stages or overwhelming crowds, just a full day spent walking, observing, and dining together in a small village in the province of Avellino, Campania. The initiative began in 2023, when the FuEco Community Cooperative, with the support of the local municipality, organized the first nature hike along the Monte San Felice ridge to mark the 53rd World Earth Day. Since then, it has become a cherished spring tradition for the town.

Trekking on Monte San Felice

The highlight of the day is a guided trek of moderate difficulty, suitable for families, children, and dogs. The meeting point is the municipal amphitheater on Via Cerro, from where the group sets off toward the slopes of Monte San Felice. The route, involving about two hours of actual walking, touches on scenic viewpoints and spots known primarily to locals: the summit, the so-called "Barracca di Carluccio," the "Turchetti" area, and the dense "Surti" woods, where chestnut and oak trees create a shaded canopy over the trail.

Guides accompany the group, making stops to identify wild plants—from wild asparagus to undergrowth flora—turning the walk into an open-air botany lesson.

Country breakfast and community dining

Midway through the hike, the group stops in a clearing for a country-style breakfast: local specialties served right on the mountain, which is consistently a favorite moment for participants. Upon returning to the amphitheater, the program continues with thematic talks and a convivial lunch prepared by the cooperative using local ingredients; in past editions, vegan options were available upon request. The participation fee includes the guide, breakfast, and lunch, with discounts for children.

Workshops, games, and meetings

The afternoon is dedicated to the more relaxed and interactive side of the day:

• ecological workshops and awareness-raising activities regarding waste and plastic;
• games and entertainment for children in the amphitheater area;
• an equipped relaxation area with themed activities for those who prefer not to hike;
• tastings of local products;
• quizzes, entertainment, and discussions with environmental experts.

Each edition follows the official theme of the international Earth Day: "Planet Vs. Plastics" in 2024, "Our Power, Our Planet" in 2025, with sessions dedicated to the transition toward renewable energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Organized by: the FuEco Community Cooperative

Behind the event is FuEco, a community cooperative based in Santa Paolina whose name combines "future" and "ecology." The project was developed within the Sale della Terra Consortium network and focuses on enhancing the village's natural heritage; Earth Day is its most visible showcase. The event is organized with the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Paolina and the collaboration of local entities such as the Pro Loco, the GAL Partenio, and the Piccoli Welcome network.

Why it's worth the trip

Santa Paolina is one of those Irpinian villages you might drive through in minutes, yet it reveals its true beauty only on foot; its landscape has been recognized among the "Places of the Heart" by the FAI (National Trust for Italy). Participating in Earth Day means seeing the territory through the eyes of those who live there, among cultivated hills, forests, and panoramas that, on clear days, open up across much of Irpinia. It is a simple formula—a walk, a shared table, a few workshops—that works precisely because it doesn't try to be anything else.