I Chiani in Festa

I Chiani in Festa: the Cilento evening in Giungatelle

In the hilly hinterland of Cilento, just a few kilometers from the sea, the hamlet of Giungatelle—a small village in the municipality of Montecorice, in the province of Salerno, Campania—transforms for two nights into a large open-air dining room. I Chiani in Festa is the Cilento-style evening that brings the flavors of peasant cuisine, live music, and that authentic village conviviality, which remains one of the most genuine traits of the Cilento interior, back to Piazza Domenico A. Franciulli every summer. It is not a tourist showcase: it is a festival organized by the community for itself, which is precisely why it attracts visitors from further afield.

Why it is called this

The name of the event is no coincidence. Chiani is the term used to refer to the inhabitants of the hamlet of Giungatelle: titling the festival "I Chiani in Festa" means putting the community that organizes it at the center, rather than a single product or recipe. It is a grassroots festival, born from the bottom up and growing year after year to become one of the most anticipated events of the Montecorice summer. In 2026, the Cilento evening reaches its fourteenth edition, a sign of rare continuity for an event entirely managed by volunteers.

The table: Cilento folk cuisine

The menu is the true calling card of the festival, built entirely on traditional local peasant recipes. At the food stalls set up in the square, you will find the signature dishes of the territory:

• Fried pizza, crispy and served hot, one of the most requested classics of Cilento festivals;
• Fusilli with tomato sauce, the handmade pasta that has always accompanied the tables of Cilento feasts;
• Crapa vudduta, or boiled goat, a humble and identity-defining dish of the hinterland cuisine;
• Sfriuonzulo with french fries, another traditional local preparation served in generous portions;
• Cannulo cilentano, the dessert that usually closes the evening;
• The characteristic wine ca' percoca, local wine served with peaches according to a widespread Cilento peasant custom.

These are recipes that tell a story of dining based on simple ingredients and shared portions. The organizers' declared goal is to promote folk cuisine, a gastronomic heritage that is not found on restaurant menus and that survives primarily thanks to collective occasions like this one.

Live music and square atmosphere

Alongside the gastronomy, both evenings feature live music. Performances are held directly in the square, with the stage just a few meters from the tables: this formula, typical of Cilento summer festivals, combines tasting with dancing and ensures the event continues late into the night. Admission to the square is free and accessible to all ages, with families arriving early for dinner and a younger crowd joining in the latter part of the evening.

A festival built by the community

The organization is entrusted to the Associazione Insieme per Giungatelle, which works with the San Pasquale Baylon Parish. The same association enlivens the life of the hamlet throughout the rest of the year with initiatives ranging from Christmas markets to tastings of typical dishes, games for children, and live music events. However, I Chiani in Festa remains the main appointment on the calendar: the one that brings back emigrants and the children of the hamlet who return for their summer holidays.

Montecorice, between the hills and the Cilento sea

The municipality of Montecorice is located in the heart of the coastal Cilento, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. Its territory combines hilly hamlets like Giungatelle and Ortodonico with the seaside locations of Agnone and Case del Conte, amidst olive groves and Mediterranean scrub. The Cilento evening in Giungatelle is part of a summer full of events in the municipality, from the Velia Teatro Festival in Ortodonico to the beer festival in Montecorice.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally scheduled for mid-August, in the days leading up to Ferragosto, over two consecutive evenings. In 2026, the event is scheduled for August 12th and 13th, in Piazza Domenico A. Franciulli in Giungatelle. It is best to arrive early: the square is intimate and fills up quickly during peak hours.