'I Nuotti r'u Pagliaro Festival

Four nights in the rural heart of Cilento

'I Nuotti r'u Pagliaro is the festival that brings the Pagliarole district to life every August. Located in Omignano Scalo, a small town in the province of Salerno, Campania, it offers four consecutive evenings where a handful of houses and farmyards become the stage for a collective narrative: the story of the Cilento farming world, of wheat, straw, and summer nights spent outdoors after the harvest.

The event is organized by the Associazione Pagliarolese, which for years has brought together residents, returning emigrants, and volunteers around a simple idea: not just to talk about tradition, but to bring it back to life. The result is a small, authentic, and deeply engaging festival, far removed from standardized commercial fairs.

The 'pagliaro', symbol of a civilization

The name of the event refers to the pagliaro, a shelter built from straw and stones that once dotted the wheat fields of Cilento, serving as both a refuge for farmers and a storage space for tools. This humble, ingenious structure also gives the district its name. Along the festival route, visitors can admire numerous straw sculptures depicting ancient local crafts, alongside the traditional scarecrows once used to protect wheat fields from birds.

The display alone is worth the visit: the installations are handcrafted by association members and change every year, offering a vivid snapshot of rural Cilento life before mechanization.

Folk music and street performers

The soundtrack is rooted in Southern tradition: tammurriate, tarantellas, and folk songs performed live by local folk groups, with the audience dancing in the central square until late. Each evening features a concert, while street performers and stilt walkers roam the path to entertain families and children.

• Evening concerts of Cilento and Campania folk music
• Group dances and tarantella with audience participation
• Roaming street art shows and stilt walkers
• Scenic straw installations dedicated to ancient crafts

Dining: 'u cavato cu 'u filoscio

Cuisine is the second heart of the festival. The signature dish is 'u cavato cu 'u filoscio, homemade pasta prepared according to the traditional Cilento recipe, served alongside other local classics: meats, cured sausages, local cheeses, seasonal vegetables, and homemade desserts. Everything is paired with local wine produced in the hills surrounding Omignano.

The food stalls are managed directly by the association's volunteers, and it shows: generous portions, affordable prices, and recipes that have remained untouched by tourist trends.

Omignano and the Cilento hinterland

Omignano is a town of a few hundred inhabitants overlooking the Alento valley, a short distance from the Cilento coast and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town is divided between the historic hilltop village and Omignano Scalo, the hub that grew around the railway station on the Tyrrhenian line, where the Pagliarole district is located.

Attending 'I Nuotti r'u Pagliaro is a chance to discover the lesser-known side of Cilento—the hills cultivated with wheat and olive trees, just a few kilometers from the beaches of Casal Velino, Ascea, and Velia, and a stone's throw from the Elea-Velia archaeological site.

Visitor tips

The festival takes place in the evening and is held along an outdoor route: comfortable shoes and a light jacket for the late hours are recommended. The atmosphere is family-friendly and suitable for all ages, with spaces and shows designed for children. As it is a small district, it is advisable to arrive early to find parking in the nearby areas.