Golden Annurca Apple Award

An award dedicated to the queen of apples

The Golden Annurca Apple Award is an accolade established in 2024 in Sant'Agata de' Goti, in the heart of Sannio, in the province of Benevento (Campania). The concept comes from artist and actor Angelo Iannelli, known as the "ambassador of smiles," who also serves as artistic director; the organization is handled by the Vesuvius APS Association, in collaboration with Villa Izzo and with the moral patronage of the Municipality of Sant'Agata de' Goti, as well as the Municipality and Province of Benevento.

The central theme is the Annurca apple, a prized Campanian cultivar defined as the "queen of apples," which has always been an agricultural and identity symbol in the Agatine territory and Sannio. The award, a specially crafted sculpture, is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in art, fashion, music, culture, social work, and gastronomy: a way to link the fruit's name to a cultural recognition that transcends local borders.

Villa Izzo, in the Bagnoli district

The venue has always been Villa Izzo, at Via Chiesa 49, in the Bagnoli district of Sant'Agata de' Goti. The villa's grounds, featuring a garden and internal parking, host the institutional ceremony, the artists' stage, exhibitions, and tasting stalls all in one afternoon. It is an intimate, family-friendly format, very different from a large fair: attendees move freely between award ceremonies, exhibitions, and tastings.

Art, fashion, music, and gastronomy

Each edition follows a recognizable pattern, uniting different languages around the same theme:

• Awards for personalities from the world of entertainment, music, art, and social commitment;
• Fashion show featuring creations by Campanian designers and the participation of models and guests;
• Live music, with soloists and instrumentalists performing classic Neapolitan repertoire and singer-songwriter hits;
• Art exhibition by Vesuvius Association artists, with works inspired by the event's theme;
• Photography exhibition dedicated to the Annurca apple, curated by Aldo Di Caprio;
• Free tastings of local products: Annurca panettone, jams, juices, liqueurs, fresh mozzarella, Sannio honey, and traditional desserts.

There is also an educational component: in the 2025 edition, farmer Antonietta Bagnoli shared the origins and cultivation techniques of the Annurca with the public, explaining why this fruit is so deeply tied to the Agatine hills.

The first two editions

The first edition took place in October 2024 at Villa Izzo: awardees included television journalist Diletta Acanfora and comedian Angelo Di Gennaro, with a social recognition for the "SuperEroi e Clown in Corsia" and awards for local visual artists. The second edition, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 4:00 PM, honored actress, director, and singer Lucia Cassini, actress Marica Gambardella (the "Luna" from the Rai series "Mare fuori"), character actor Pippo Barone, and singers Teresa Moccia, Mario Conte, and Genny Nugnes, featuring a fashion show by designer Patrizia Lieto and a photography exhibition on the Annurca.

Sant'Agata de' Goti, one of the most beautiful villages in Campania

The award is also an opportunity to discover Sant'Agata de' Goti, a town in the province of Benevento famous for its historic center overlooking a tuff ridge, among alleys, churches, and palaces that tell centuries of Sannite, Lombard, and Norman history. The surrounding countryside is a mosaic of orchards and vineyards: here, the Annurca coexists with Sannio grapes, and local gastronomy combines apples, fresh cheeses, honey, and traditional peasant desserts. Visiting the village in the morning and reaching Bagnoli in the afternoon is the best way to experience the event without rushing.

What to expect from the 2026 edition

As of now, the Vesuvius APS Association has not yet announced the date for the third edition, which, following the previous ones, is expected in autumn, during the Annurca harvest period. We recommend following the association's channels and the local Sannio press in the weeks leading up to the event: the detailed program, including awardees and guests, is usually released a few days before the appointment.