Il Castello del Gusto - Truffle Fair

A fair born from the Auruncian truffle

The Il Castello del Gusto - Truffle Fair is the food and wine event that enlivens the historic center of Sessa Aurunca, in the Province of Caserta (Campania), every summer. The event was established in 2022 by the Auruncian Mycological Association (AMA) with a clear vision: to showcase the truffles harvested in the mountains surrounding the city—a product that is available almost year-round in northern Caserta but remains little known outside the circle of local truffle hunters. The first edition, held from July 8th to 10th, 2022, featured tastings of truffles, saffron, caciocavallo cheese, local meats and wines, cooking shows by renowned chefs, historical re-enactments, falconry displays, and truffle hunting competitions with dogs.

Sessa Aurunca, City of Truffles

In 2023, Sessa Aurunca officially joined the National 'Città del Tartufo' (City of Truffles) Association, which brings together over sixty Italian municipalities. This candidacy, managed by the AMA and supported by local and regional institutions, arrived two years after UNESCO recognized truffle hunting and extraction as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since then, the fair has become the most visible public expression of this local vocation. It is not uncommon for prized specimens to be found in the Auruncian woods; a 435-gram white truffle was once unearthed by an association member and made headlines in the local press.

The Ducal Castle and the historic squares

The event does not take place in a fairground but within the city itself. The heart of the festival is the Ducal Castle, a fortress of early medieval origin that dominates the historic center and houses the 'Salone dei Quadri', a venue for conferences and cooking shows. From there, the fair expands to Piazza XX Settembre, Piazza Tiberio, and the cloister of San Domenico, which hosts workshops for children. Moving from one stall to another means traversing one of the most monumental villages in northern Campania, with the Roman theater, the Norman cathedral, and the Aurunci bridge just a short walk away.

What to expect at the fair

• Food and wine stalls featuring fresh truffles and typical Auruncian products;
• Cooking shows led by local chefs and restaurateurs;
• Guided tastings and gourmet truffle aperitifs paired with wines from Campanian producers;
• Educational workshops for children on truffles and mushrooms, such as the 'Little Hunters' sessions;
• Conferences on truffles and the local area with industry experts and institutional representatives;
• Free guided tours of the city's most iconic monuments.

Music and performances in the squares

Each evening concludes with open-air concerts and shows, with two stages operating in parallel between Piazza Tiberio and Piazza XX Settembre. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists such as Tony Tammaro, Gianmarco Carroccia with his tribute to Lucio Battisti, the Neapolitan band La Maschera, Walter Ricci, the TaranTerra project, and Roberto Colella, alongside DJ sets by local artists. The program alternates between singer-songwriter music, folk music, and lighter entertainment, appealing to families, young people, and visitors from outside the province alike.

An event that grows with every edition

Following its 2022 debut, the fair has steadily grown. The third edition in 2024 was spread over two weekends (July 27-28 and August 2-4), while the fourth took place from July 10th to 13th, 2025, over four consecutive days. In 2026, the 5th edition occupied the weekend of July 24th to 26th, preceded by a children's workshop on Thursday the 23rd. The event is supported by the Municipality of Sessa Aurunca and the Campania Region, with contributions from local commercial operators.

When to go

The event is now a fixed appointment in the month of July, with evenings starting in the late afternoon and continuing until late at night. We recommend arriving early: the sunset light over the historic center is worth the trip alone, and there is time for a guided tour before the squares fill up. Those staying longer can combine the fair with a visit to the Domitian coast, the Suio thermal baths, or nearby Roccamonfina with its ancient extinct volcano.