Italy and Cilento Archers Gathering - End of Summer Arrows

An archery gathering in the heart of Cilento

The Italy and Cilento Archers Gathering, which has been known as "End of Summer Arrows" since 2026, is the late-August event that the Municipality of Monteforte Cilento, in the province of Salerno, dedicates to historical and traditional archery. The event is organized by the Arcieri Monteforte Cilento association, chaired by master Giuseppe Mondelli, under the aegis of the "MSP Archery" sector, and takes place according to the National Dynamic Archery Regulations.

In just a few years, the initiative has grown into a benchmark for archers across Italy: in past seasons, the trails in the Monteforte woods have hosted over fifty archers at a time, including prominent names in the discipline, confirming the quality of the competition terrain set up in this corner of Campania.

Dynamic archery: instinct only, no technology

The format is that of dynamic archery, simulating ancestral paths immersed in nature: you walk from station to station, evaluate distance, slope, and light, and then shoot. Competitors use exclusively historical, recurve, and longbow bows; technological aids such as rangefinders or sights are not allowed, as everything must depend on the athlete's instinctive ability. It is a discipline that rewards reading the woods more than raw power, making it perfectly suited to the landscape of the Cilento hinterland.

The Vallecioffi competition field

The gathering's headquarters is the wooded area of Vallecioffi, just outside the village. Here, trails spanning several kilometers are marked out, with stations of increasing difficulty arranged among oaks, chestnut trees, and rocky outcrops. The morning meeting, welcome breakfast, awards ceremony, and social lunch are all held on the field, which becomes a small village of archers, tents, and companions for an entire weekend.

More than just sport: wine and Cilento cuisine

The gathering goes beyond the competition. On Saturday evening, the archers leave the woods and head down to Piazza Roma, in the center of Monteforte Cilento, for a tasting of Cilento wines featuring the most renowned local wineries: a way to introduce visitors to the other side of this land—the culinary side—which here also means extra virgin olive oil, mountain cheeses, and products from the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. On Sunday, after the awards ceremony, the organizing association hosts a large open-air social lunch for all participants and their guests.

Who can participate

• Archers registered with any order, federation, or Sports Promotion Body (E.P.S.)
• All age groups, with mandatory protection and specific draw weight limits for younger participants
• Companions and curious spectators, who can follow the competition stages and join in the social events

You don't need to be a champion: every year, families and beginners join the top athletes, drawn by a format that combines hiking and competition.

Monteforte Cilento, a village between Alento and Monte Chianiello

With just over five hundred inhabitants, at an altitude of six hundred meters, and a position overlooking the Alento valley at the foot of Monte Chianiello, Monteforte Cilento is one of those Salerno villages where the woods reach the very last houses. Established as a Roman outpost and embellished with noble palaces between the 18th and 19th centuries, the village retains a compact urban fabric, ideal for exploring on foot during the hours between the two days of competition. The municipal territory, which ranges from 150 to 1,319 meters in altitude, alternates between pastures, chestnut groves, and oak forests: the natural setting that makes this gathering different from any indoor shooting competition.