Fiano in Scena

An Irpinian town putting Fiano centre stage

Fiano in Scena is the festival through which Cesinali, a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, tells its story through the wine that defines its territory. The event was created by the Pro Loco Cesinali with the support of the local municipal administration and takes place outdoors along Viale Sabino Cocchia, the main artery lined with food stalls, tasting counters, and the performance stage. The title is no coincidence: Fiano is not just a glass of wine to accompany a meal, but the common thread weaving together cuisine, visual arts, theatre, and music.

Fiano di Avellino DOCG, the liquid identity of Irpinia

Cesinali is nestled in the basin south of Avellino, just a few kilometres from the vineyards that make up the Fiano di Avellino DOCG area, one of the most renowned white wines in Southern Italy. It is a hillside wine with a mineral profile and remarkable ageing potential, linked to a grape variety of ancient origins. During the festival, the wine is offered for tasting and presented through a Winestour, where technology and art guide visitors on a «three-dimensional» walk through the Fiano DOCG landscape: a way to show even non-locals why these hills hold value far beyond a single sip.

Irpinian rustic cuisine, from the grill to the farmhouse table

The culinary side is managed by Pro Loco volunteers and focuses on local products. The programme features a mixed grill, including burgers made from Podolica beef raised in Cesinali, Montella caciocavallo cheese, cherry tomatoes, sliced steak, and grilled meats, as well as handmade pasta with ragù and an aperitivo served alongside Fiano. The Sunday lunch is designed as a farmhouse table: simple, traditional Irpinian dishes served outdoors, recreating the way people ate—and socialised—in the homes of this part of the Campanian Apennines.

Theatre, painting, and music: the «on stage» element

The other half of the festival is cultural. The open-air stage hosts theatrical performances produced with the Teatro d'Europa, brought to the streets rather than a theatre hall, in a format that brings stage language closer to a local audience. Alongside the theatre is live music, featuring prominent names from the jazz scene and the Neapolitan circuit. Visual arts are represented by «Fiano su Tela», a free painting competition limited to a select number of artists who paint live, taking the wine, the landscape, and village life as their subjects: the finished works remain on public display.

What to expect

• A family-friendly village festival, held entirely outdoors on a pedestrianised avenue.
• An audience primarily composed of locals, with visitors from Avellino and the surrounding Irpinian basin.
• A mixed format: eat, drink, watch performances, and observe painters at work in the same space.
• September in the hills: evenings are cool, so a light jacket is recommended.
• A strong volunteer spirit from the Pro Loco, with festival-style pricing and counter service.

A young festival

Fiano in Scena is one of the most recent additions to the Cesinali calendar, which already includes deep-rooted events like the Zeza Carnival and various traditional food festivals. The first edition, in September 2025, was well-received by the local Irpinian press, which highlighted its ability to combine wine promotion, entertainment, and conviviality. For this reason, the festival is currently considered a work in progress rather than a consolidated tradition: an open project that the town intends to grow over the years.