Matasselle and Beans with Salsiccia Pezzente Festival

An August evening in Cassano Caudino

The Matasselle and Beans with Salsiccia Pezzente Festival takes place in Cassano Caudino, a charming village in the municipality of Roccabascerana, in the province of Avellino, deep in the heart of the Caudine Valley, Campania. This is a grassroots festival, born from community spirit rather than marketing: local women hand-roll the pasta in the days leading up to the event, stalls are set up along the village streets, and on the historic date of August 10th, visitors flock here from across the Irpinia and Sannio regions.

Matasselle: the star of the show

Matasselle are thin, tagliolini-like pasta strips made from a simple dough and strictly hand-rolled, just as they were in traditional Irpinian peasant kitchens. There is no industrial version of this dish; the preparation requires days of collective effort and represents the very soul of the festival. The event has built its reputation on this authenticity, and it is remembered today as one of the few celebrations dedicated to a product made entirely by hand, served in thousands of portions over the course of a single evening.

Beans and 'pezzente' sausage

The matasselle are served with local beans, slow-cooked and flavored with salsiccia pezzente in tomato sauce. Do not let the name fool you: "pezzente" sausage is a traditional rustic cured meat, originally made from the less noble cuts of pork seasoned with natural herbs. Today, it is considered one of the most iconic specialties of the Campanian hinterland. Alongside the signature dish, the stalls typically offer:

• local cheeses and cured meats;
• wood-fired bread and traditional vegetable sides;
• homemade artisan desserts;
• local Irpinian wines and beer.

Folk music, dancing, and devotion

The festival is tied to the popular feast in honor of Maria Santissima delle Grazie, preserving the dual religious and convivial spirit typical of Campanian village celebrations. After dinner, the square comes alive with folk music, tarantellas, and traditional dances, with live performances continuing late into the night. It is a family-friendly event where children can roam freely among the stalls, maintaining the informal, welcoming atmosphere of a true village fair.

A thirty-year tradition

The event began in the mid-nineties; by 2013 it was celebrating its 19th edition, reaching its 25th in 2019, always held around August 10th. Over the years, the festival has adopted more environmentally conscious practices, such as using cellulose tableware instead of plastic. The most recent edition took place on Sunday, August 10, 2025.

Roccabascerana and the Caudine Valley

Roccabascerana has just over two thousand inhabitants and sits at an altitude of 350 meters, spanning the villages of Cassano Caudino, Squillani, Tufara Valle, Tuoro, and Zolli. Located on the border between the provinces of Avellino and Benevento, the area is a hilly landscape of cultivated fields, chestnut groves, and small historic centers. Visitors attending the festival can easily extend their trip to explore the rest of the Caudine Valley, a land of fine wines, ancient trade routes, and a cuisine that remains faithful to its roots.

Good to know

As with many local village festivals, the detailed program is only released in the weeks leading up to the event via the festival's social media channels and local Irpinian press. It is advisable to check the date and times before traveling: the festival is traditionally concentrated into a single evening, with stalls opening in the early evening followed by music.