Feijoa Festival

A South American fruit that became a symbol of Sperone

The Feijoa Festival is an event that every autumn brings the spotlight back to a fruit still little-known in Italy, but which has been at home for over a century in Sperone, a small town in the province of Avellino, in Campania, on the extreme western edge of Irpinia. The feijoa (Acca sellowiana), also known as pineapple guava or guavasteen, is native to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina: its juicy, fragrant pulp combines notes of kiwi, pineapple, and strawberry and can be enjoyed by the spoonful or transformed into jams, syrups, desserts, and liqueurs.

In the mild climate of this area of Campania, the plant found an ideal environment to grow and spread. According to local memory, the first specimen was planted in the early 1900s in the historic Villa Borselli: from there, the cultivation spread to the gardens and vegetable patches of the town, so much so that entire generations of Sperone children grew up «stealing» those green, fragrant fruits. Today, the feijoa is considered a local specialty in every respect, and it is precisely this bond between an exotic plant and an Irpinian community that makes the festival so unique.

How the event was born

The first edition took place on November 3, 2024, in Piazza Luigi Lauro, based on an idea by Peppe Caramiello and organized by the Pro Loco of Sperone, then led by Angelo Sorice. The goal was twofold: to raise awareness of the fruit's nutritional qualities—rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, as well as being low-calorie—and to encourage citizens to cultivate it, paving the way for small artisanal productions of jams, syrups, and liqueurs. That morning of tastings in the square, enlivened by a folk music group, attracted many curious visitors and convinced the organizers to continue the appointment.

The second edition, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, was more structured: a gastronomic and cultural enhancement journey that involved local associations with the patronage of the Municipality of Sperone, transforming the historic center into a small, widespread fair.

What to find in the square

• Tastings of fresh feijoa and its derivatives: jams, syrups, desserts, liqueurs, and savory preparations.
• Snacks and ancient treats inspired by Irpinian peasant cuisine.
• Stalls of local producers and artisans with typical regional products.
• Workshops for adults and children dedicated to the rediscovery of flavors and traditions.
• Folk music, traditional dances, and storytelling accompanying the morning.
• Street games and entertainment for the little ones.

A village festival atmosphere

The Feijoa Festival is not a massive fair with thousands of visitors: it is a community celebration, concentrated in a few hours on a Sunday morning, where producers personally explain how the fruit is grown and processed, and where visitors can taste, ask questions, and compare. Those arriving from outside discover a product they would rarely find on market stalls, while for the inhabitants of Sperone, it is an opportunity to proudly reclaim a cultivation that has turned from a garden curiosity into an identity.

Sperone, the western gateway to Irpinia

With just under four thousand inhabitants, Sperone is located in the Baianese area, at the meeting point between the province of Avellino and the Nola area. It is a transit position that has always favored trade, and which today makes the town easily reachable even from Naples. Those visiting the festival can combine the day with the discovery of nearby villages and the Irpinian countryside in autumn, when the colors and flavors of the season are at their peak.

When it takes place

The appointment is traditionally set for the first half of November, on a Sunday morning, during the feijoa ripening period. The first two editions were held on November 3, 2024, and November 9, 2025, both in Piazza Luigi Lauro. The dates for the new edition are usually announced by the Pro Loco of Sperone and the Municipality a few weeks before the event.