Malazè

Malazè, the widespread festival of the Phlegraean Fields

Malazè is the archaeological, food, and wine event of the Phlegraean Fields, one of the most original fixtures in the late summer calendar of the Campania region. It does not take place in a single square: it is a widespread festival that involves the municipality of Pozzuoli, in the province of Naples, along with Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Quarto, the island of Procida, and parts of the city of Naples. For a few days in September, the entire Phlegraean territory in Campania becomes an open-air laboratory where archaeology, wine, and cuisine are celebrated together.

The origins: a community laboratory

The event was born from an idea by Rosario Mattera, who conceived it as a tool to "create a system" in an area rich in historical and natural heritage but long undervalued from a tourism perspective. Over the years, a vast network has been built around the project: wineries, restaurateurs, cultural cooperatives, farms, environmental associations, and local guides. Hence the name the organization gave itself, Malazè Community Laboratory: more than just a festival, it is a shared platform for regional promotion.

The format: archaeology, wine, and cuisine

The program weaves together very different themes, which is the recognizable hallmark of Malazè. In a single day, you can move from a Roman excavation to a vineyard on tuff, from a professional kitchen to a scenic trail. Recurring offerings include:

• tastings of Phlegraean wines and guided samplings with sommeliers;
• visits to archaeological sites, including dramatized tours;
• hiking, bike tours, and nature walks;
• cooking classes and showcooking with local chefs;
• meetings, storytelling, and presentations dedicated to Phlegraean history;
• extraordinary openings of wineries, community gardens, villas, farms, and agritourisms.

Itineraries and locations

In its most extensive editions, the calendar has exceeded a hundred initiatives, organized into thematic itineraries that take their names from the Latin toponyms of the area — Neapolis, Puteoli, Avernum, Baiae, Quartum, Mons, and Prochyta — designed to help visitors navigate a truly layered heritage. The locations change from year to year: vineyards grown on tuff, quarries, archaeological parks, thermal baths, extinct craters like the Astroni, historic cellars, and restaurants overlooking the gulf.

The flavors of the Phlegraean Fields

The gastronomic side showcases a surprising local pantry: oily fish and mussels from the coast, the Phlegraean cannellino tomato, grass peas, Procida citrus fruits, and vegetables from urban gardens. As for wine, the stars are the Falanghina and Piedirosso dei Campi Flegrei DOC, grape varieties often grown on their own roots in volcanic soil, which yield aromatic profiles difficult to find elsewhere.

Recent editions

The 2024 edition, the seventeenth, took place from September 23rd to 28th with the theme "Living inside the volcano," dedicated to slow tourism and rediscovering the value of leisure that the Romans had already codified in the Phlegraean villas. The Malazè Off section, from September 26th to 28th, featured ten widespread events organized into eight itineraries and two food and wine meetings, carried out as part of the Campi Flegrei Active project with the support of the Campania Regional Tourism Agency.

Why attend

Malazè is an excellent opportunity to visit the Phlegraean Fields away from the high-season tourist crowds, when the climate is still mild and the grape harvest has just concluded. It is an event designed for those who want to understand a territory rather than just consume it: you walk, you listen, you taste. Most activities take place in small groups and require mandatory booking, so it is best to check the program as soon as it is published and book the most popular experiences in advance.