Marchigiana PGI Beef Festival

A festival dedicated to the White Central Apennine beef

The Marchigiana PGI Beef Festival is one of the most recognizable food and wine events in the Municipality of Frasso Telesino, in the Province of Benevento, deep in the heart of the Campania region. The festival has a clear mission: to showcase the Marchigiana breed, one of the types that make up the 'White Central Apennine' Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This is not just a generic food fair, but a specialized event built entirely around a certified product, celebrated for its tenderness and distinct flavor.

Grilled specialties at the heart of the event

The formula that has made the event so popular is simple and direct: the meat is grilled to order in front of the public, allowing visitors to choose their preferred cut and portion size. Past editions have featured a selection centered around the grill.

• Grilled steaks and premium cuts, served by weight;
• Mixed grill, the most popular choice for those wanting to sample multiple cuts;
• Butcher-style sliced steak with arugula and cherry tomatoes;
• House-made sausages and jumbo burgers;
• Rustic sandwiches and gourmet snacks, such as the famous 'butcher's sfogliatella' filled with minced meat and provola cheese.

Evenings typically begin at 9:00 PM, when the square fills up and the grills fire up. The dining area set up in the San Vito district offers over 800 seats, a testament to how the event has become a major attraction for the entire Telesina Valley.

Sannio wines and live music

The meat is perfectly complemented by Sannio wines, from one of Southern Italy's most important wine-growing districts: Aglianico, Falanghina, and Greco are the natural pairings for grilled dishes. The evenings are enlivened by live music and popular entertainment, with activities for families and children. Recent editions have expanded the program to include guided tastings, show cooking sessions, and markets featuring local crafts and products.

A family history: Macellerie Maddaloni

The festival is promoted by Macellerie Maddaloni, a family business active in Frasso Telesino since 1947, which has specialized in the Marchigiana breed for decades, with a second location in Telese Terme. Lorenzo Maddaloni and his son Vittorio organize the evenings. Over time, the event has gained the patronage of the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Frasso Telesino, as well as the support of the Taburno Local Action Group (GAL) and CIA Campania.

A well-established tradition

The festival is far from new: by 2014, it had already reached its fourth edition, and in 2023, it celebrated its tenth anniversary, held from August 3rd to 6th in Piazza Mercato. The most recent documented edition took place in 2025, held from August 2nd to 4th in the San Vito district. The timing remains consistent: the first ten days of August, when the village is bustling with residents returning for the holidays and visitors alike.

Frasso Telesino, a village of wine and tradition

Frasso Telesino lies at the foot of the Taburno-Camposauro mountain range, within the Regional Natural Park of the same name. The first historical records date back to 956 AD, and the village preserves a significant religious heritage: the church of Madonna del Campanile (1661), featuring a wooden statue of the Madonna and a large canvas by Paolo De Majo; the church of Santa Giuliana, which houses a late 16th-century Rosary altarpiece; and the church of San Michele Arcangelo on Mount Sant'Angelo. Visitors to the festival can combine their culinary experience with a stroll through the village or a visit to the wineries of the Telesina Valley.

Why it's worth the trip

The festival is perfect for those seeking an honest culinary experience without tourist filters: glowing embers, meat weighed and cooked before your eyes, Sannio wine, and music late into the night. It is also a great way to discover the inland Apennine region of Campania, where local festivals remain a vital expression of collective identity.