Le Notti del Cilento - Cilento Festival of Festivals

Five evenings in the woods, twenty-five festivals in one place

Le Notti del Cilento - Cilento Festival of Festivals is the mid-July event that transforms the San Felice woods, in the San Felice district of Cicerale (province of Salerno, Campania), into a massive open-air gastronomic square. The concept is as simple as it is effective: instead of chasing village festivals scattered across hills and hamlets all summer, visitors find them gathered in one single area, under the canopy of ancient trees. Twenty-five of the most representative festivals of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park set up their stalls here, bringing the very recipes that made them famous.

Over eighty traditional Cilento dishes

The most striking figure is the number of dishes: over eighty different preparations, cooked according to traditional recipes by the same associations, Pro Loco groups, and committees that animate the festivals in their home villages. This is no mere abstract showcase: every stand is a stronghold of a community, a feast, or an iconic product, and the walk between the stalls becomes a true narrative of authentic Cilento, from the coast to the hinterland.

Among the festivals that have already graced the event are some well-known local names:

• the Festa del Pescato di Paranza (Fried Fish Festival) of Castellabate;
• the Ciccimmaretati of Stio;
• the Festa nel Bosco (Forest Festival) of Perito;
• the Antica Pizza Cilentana of Giungano;
• the Sagra del Fusillo of Felitto;
• the Cilento White Fig, the Paestum Artichoke, the Vatolla Onion, and the Maracuoccio of Camerota.

Handmade pasta, legumes, peasant cuisine, ancient humble dishes, and farm-to-table products together tell the story of the Mediterranean diet, for which Cilento is one of its historic homelands.

The San Felice woods, a natural stage

The choice of location is part of the festival's success. The area unfolds within the woods of the San Felice district, on the wooded heights of Cicerale: a natural amphitheater, cool even on the hottest July nights, where tables and the stage are nestled among the trees. It is a setting far removed from the classic asphalt square, contributing to a memorable experience for those arriving from the Cilento coast or from further afield.

Folk music, tarantellas, and talks

Alongside the gastronomy, the event offers folk music concerts every evening, featuring folk bands, tarantellas, performances, and entertainment, as well as talks and meetings with journalists, chefs, and local producers. The musical program highlights the Cilento and Campania scene, with ensembles blending traditional rhythms and contemporary sounds, continuing late into the night.

A project for regional promotion

Le Notti del Cilento is more than just a food festival: it is a project to promote the region's food and wine excellence, traditions, and identity. Bringing the individual village festivals together in a single calendar allows small inland communities to reach a wider audience, including those locations that, far from the sea, struggle to capture summer tourist flows. For the visitor, it is the perfect opportunity to map out which villages to explore for the rest of the summer.

How the evening works

Admission is free. The public enters the area freely, wanders among the stalls, chooses their preferred dishes, and purchases them directly from the stand of the festival offering them: you can create your own dinner by combining appetizers, first courses, and desserts from different villages. Food stands open every evening at 8:00 PM, while the festival area is active from 7:00 PM until midnight.

Tips for your visit

• Arrive early: on weekends, attendance is high and queues at the most popular stands grow quickly.
• Bring a light sweater: in the hills at night, the temperature drops significantly compared to the coast.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the path winds through wooded terrain.
• Combine your visit with a day in Cilento: Paestum, the National Park, and the inland villages are all within easy reach.