Magic in the Village - Ceppaloni between Truffles and Witches

A Sannio village between white truffles and witch legends

In the heart of Sannio, just a few kilometers south of Benevento, the ancient village of Ceppaloni (Province of Benevento, Campania) becomes the stage for Magic in the Village - Ceppaloni between Truffles and Witches every autumn. This widespread event weaves together gastronomy, live music, art, and urban installations. The format is not that of a classic festival with a single central stand: here, you walk along uphill alleys, taste local delicacies, listen to music, enter courtyards, and reach the medieval castle that dominates the Sabato valley. The result is an experiential journey designed to tell the deep history of one of the most evocative villages in the Sannio hinterland.

The white truffle, the absolute star

The main theme is the white truffle, a product of excellence from the hills around Ceppaloni and the true gastronomic identity of the territory. In past editions, the gourmet path through the village streets has featured:

• food and wine stalls with dishes and products based on local white truffles;
• wines from local Sannio producers, one of the most important wine-growing areas in Campania;
• roasted chestnuts and traditional autumn peasant specialties;
• the participation of the Ceppaloni Truffle Hunter Associations, who share stories about truffle hunting and working with their search dogs;
• artisan exhibitors with traditional crafts.

Witches: the second face of the festival

The second theme is folklore. Sannio is the land of the janare, the witches of Benevento's popular tradition, and Benevento has been associated for centuries with the legend of the walnut tree around which they were said to gather. Magic in the Village recovers this imagery and transforms it into a scenic language: tarot readings in the alleys, nocturnal atmospheres, thematic decorations, and, in the first edition, the performative re-enactment of the Walnut Tree Rite alongside theatrical workshops dedicated to the tales of witches. This is what makes the event different from a simple gastronomic fair: the truffle provides the flavor, and the folklore provides the atmosphere.

Live music and art among the ancient stones

The musical program is one of the highlights. In the 2025 edition, the village hosted the jazz accordion of Valerio Russo, the concert by Umberto Aucone & Friends with the voices of Maura Minicozzi and Rosetta Bove, and the traditional music of the Nuovo Canzoniere della Ritta e della Manca, in addition to DJ sets and itinerant performances along the streets of the historic center. Alongside the concerts, artistic installations made with recycled materials reinterpreted corners, arches, and squares, giving the event a dimension of widespread urban art.

The Castle of Ceppaloni and the Come d'Incanto markets

The Castle of Ceppaloni, a medieval fortification that gave the town its unmistakable silhouette, is the natural backdrop for the event and was also the direct venue for the first edition. In 2025, the days of Magic in the Village coincided with the opening of the Come d'Incanto Christmas markets set up in the castle, with paid admission and a separate ticket from the free activities in the village: a combination that allowed visitors to enjoy both the outdoor gastronomic path and the atmosphere of the manor in a single visit.

From Truffle in the Village to Magic in the Village

The event inherits the legacy of Truffle in the Village, the artistic-gastronomic exhibition promoted by the Municipality of Ceppaloni and dedicated to the prized white truffle. The first edition of Magic in the Village was held on November 30 and December 1, 2024, at the castle, featuring reading workshops and theater workshops for children, concerts by Trementisti, Monaghan Duo, and Combo Musique, and evening DJ sets. The second edition, on November 8 and 9, 2025, took the event outside the walls and into the village, expanding the route through alleys and squares under the direction of Sannio Experience.

Why it's worth the trip

Magic in the Village is a good example of how small towns in the Province of Benevento are enhancing both tangible and intangible heritage: a niche product like the white truffle, a castle, a legend, and a community that opens its streets. Those who arrive in Ceppaloni in autumn find a compact village, walkable in an evening, and a hilly landscape that lends itself to being explored the next day, among Sannio wineries and other villages in the Sabato valley.