Intra Moenia - Winter Flavours

Intra Moenia - Winter Flavours, Christmas within the walls

In the heart of the Piana del Sele, just a stone's throw from the Cilento region, the Municipality of Altavilla Silentina (Salerno province, Campania) preserves an ancient medieval village: houses huddled together, narrow alleys, steep stairways, and viewpoints that, on clear days, frame the Gulf of Salerno. It is here, literally intra moenia — within the walls — that in the final days of December, Intra Moenia - Winter Flavours takes place, an event named after the Norman defensive walls that enclose the historic center.

From the Wild Boar Festival to Winter Flavours

The event began as the Wild Boar Festival, a food festival dedicated to game meat, organized in collaboration with the local branch of Libera Caccia; this was the name used for the 12th edition, held from December 27th to 29th, 2024. Starting with the 13th edition — December 27th, 28th, and 29th, 2025 — the organizers adopted the Winter Flavours format, broadening the scope to include all local cuisine without abandoning the wild boar dishes that made the festival famous. The same format was replicated in summer with Intra Moenia - Summer Flavours, which held its first edition from August 22nd to 24th, 2025.

The food and wine trail

Traditional food remains the common thread. Throughout the village, food and wine trails feature stalls run by local associations, where visitors can taste recipes from the Altavilla farming tradition and farm-to-table products from local producers.

• Wild boar dishes, the historic heart of the event
• Traditional Altavilla triìddi, a signature local pasta dish
• Typical products of the Piana del Sele and local wines
• Christmas sweets and seasonal specialties

Nativity scenes, folk music, and performances

Beyond the dining, the village transforms into a widespread exhibition: artisanal nativity scenes and Christmas decorations occupy arches, niches, and squares in the historic center, while roaming musicians, street performers, and evening concerts bring the small squares to life. In the December 2024 edition, for example, the program featured an inauguration on Friday the 27th at 7 PM at Porta di Suso with the opening of the stalls, a concert by Ivano De Simone and the New Generation Band at 9 PM in Piazza Antico Sedile, a Saturday evening performance by the Stragatti, and a Sunday featuring DonnaLuna in the early afternoon and Leggermente a Sud for the closing.

Walking through the ancient village

On Sunday morning, the Pro Loco accompanies visitors on a guided walk with tastings to discover the hidden corners of the town. The itinerary, lasting about an hour and suitable for everyone, passes under the Torre Jovia, crosses Porta di Suso, and climbs toward the Norman castle, with stops in Piazza Antico Sedile and the church of San Biagio, which houses a beautiful cycle of late-Baroque frescoes and offers views toward the Gulf of Salerno and Capri. The soundtrack is provided by traditional shepherd songs; in the 2024 edition, participation required a 5-euro contribution, with reservations recommended.

A festival built by volunteers

Intra Moenia is organized by the Altavilla Viva Association with the Youth Forum, the local branch of Libera Caccia, and the Pro Loco, under the patronage of the Municipality of Altavilla Silentina and the Province of Salerno. The president of the Youth Forum, Alex Serratore, has often described the event as a concrete response to the depopulation of small towns in inland areas: associationism and civic activism as tools to revitalize a village that risks emptying out during the winter.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who arrive here between Christmas and New Year's will find an authentic village festival, free of tourist filters: you eat standing up in the alleys, enter homes displaying nativity scenes, and chat with the cooks. For those visiting Campania off-season, it is also a great way to discover the Piana del Sele and its Norman roots in a village that retains the triangular layout designed by its 11th-century founders.

2026 Edition

At the moment, dates and the program for the December 2026 edition have not yet been released. Tradition places the event in the days immediately following Christmas, but it is essential to wait for official announcements from the organizing associations and social media channels before planning your trip.