'Mbanata Festival
Two days in Piazza Largo di Corte celebrating the signature dish of the Sannio peasant tradition
About 'Mbanata Festival
Two days dedicated to the signature dish of San Lorenzo Maggiore
Every summer, in the heart of the Valle Telesina, the village of San Lorenzo Maggiore — a municipality in the province of Benevento, in Campania — dedicates two days to a recipe that is more than just food here; it is a collective memory: 'mbanata. The 'Mbanata Festival, organized by the Pro Loco San Lorenzo Maggiore APS with the patronage of the Municipality, transforms Piazza Largo di Corte into a large village banquet, where portions are served steaming hot and the evening's rhythm is the slow, steady pace of Sannio conviviality.
What is 'mbanata
The name is the dialectal form of «impanata» (breaded/dipped) and perfectly describes the essence of the dish: crumbling cornmeal pizza—essentially oven-baked polenta—into a pan of vegetables. It is peasant cuisine in the noblest sense, born in farmhouses when the land's bounty became both sustenance and an occasion for sharing.
- Wild field herbs: chicory, wild fennel, radicchio, and other greens gathered far from traffic.
- The Queen's bean: a local variety linked to San Lupo which, according to tradition, reached the Bourbon court of Ferdinand II.
- Potatoes, fennel seeds, garlic, chili pepper, and extra virgin olive oil from the Sannio region.
- Crumbled cornmeal pizza, which binds every ingredient together and gives the dish its unmistakable texture.
The vegetables are boiled separately, then sautéed in garlic-infused oil along with the legumes and potatoes; only at the end is the crumbled polenta added to absorb the flavors. The result is a hearty, intense dish that the Pro Loco prepares according to a recipe passed down through generations.
Piazza Largo di Corte, the heart of the festival
The event's headquarters is Piazza Largo di Corte, in the historic center of the village. This is where stands and long tables are set up, and where the kitchen's aromas drift through the alleys. The atmosphere is typical of Sannio festivals: a compact space, plenty of locals, music, and a constant flow between the serving points, with Pro Loco volunteers working tirelessly at the stoves.
More than just food: local storytelling
In recent years, the festival has expanded its scope, pairing the celebration of gastronomic excellence with an increasing focus on culture, entertainment, and local storytelling. The clearest example is the inaugural event «At the table with… the flavor of stories», a public interview conducted around a table laden with 'mbanata and local products: food is not just a side dish, but an integral part of the narrative, with anecdotes, childhood memories, and family recipes intertwined with the guests' stories.
San Lorenzo Maggiore and the Valle Telesina
With just over two thousand inhabitants and an altitude of about 330 meters, San Lorenzo Maggiore sits in the hilly belt along the Calore river, a short distance from Telese Terme, Ponte, and Cerreto Sannita. It is a land of vineyards and olive groves—the home of Aglianico and Falanghina del Sannio—where summer festivals remain the most effective way for towns to express their identity. Planning a visit to the 'Mbanata Festival is also the perfect excuse to explore the villages of the Valle Telesina, the thermal baths, the artistic ceramics of Cerreto Sannita, and the trails of the Benevento Matese mountains.
Organization and information
The event is organized by the Pro Loco San Lorenzo Maggiore APS, with the patronage of the Municipality of San Lorenzo Maggiore. The most up-to-date channel for dates, times, and programs is the association's Facebook page; for direct inquiries, you can email [email protected]. It is advisable to check the schedule a few days before departure, as the evening programs are usually released shortly before the event.
'Mbanata Festival — edition 2026
'Mbanata Festival 2026: gastronomy and storytelling
For the 2026 edition, the Pro Loco San Lorenzo Maggiore APS chose the weekend of July 25 and 26, confirming Piazza Largo di Corte as the heart of the event. The formula combined the serving of 'mbanata, prepared according to the traditional recipe—wild field herbs, seasonal vegetables, legumes, and crumbled cornmeal pizza—with a program that gave increasing space to culture and local storytelling.
The most notable novelty was the inaugural event «At the table with… the flavor of stories», hosted on Saturday, July 25, at 7:00 PM in Piazza Antinora: a live interview conducted by television author Gabriele Di Marzo with actors Mirko Frezza and Tullio Sorrentino, both in the cast of the Rai series «Rocco Schiavone». The two guests discussed cinema, theater, and television while seated at a table set with 'mbanata and local specialties, in a format where food was not a backdrop but the common thread of the narrative.
After the meeting, the festival officially opened in Piazza Largo di Corte, where the evenings continued with tastings, music, and hospitality along the village streets. The second day, Sunday, July 26, saw the distribution points active in the evening, approximately between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM.
Programme 'Mbanata Festival 2026
Saturday, July 25, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Piazza Antinora: «At the table with… the flavor of stories», inaugural event conceived and hosted by television author Gabriele Di Marzo, with actors Mirko Frezza and Tullio Sorrentino (Rai series «Rocco Schiavone»). Live interview around a table laden with 'mbanata and local products, covering artistic careers, childhood memories, and family recipes.
- Followed by — Piazza Largo di Corte: official opening of the festival, with 'mbanata prepared according to the traditional recipe, music, and entertainment along the historic center's streets.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
- From 8:00 PM to approx. 11:00 PM — Piazza Largo di Corte: second evening of the festival, with tastings of 'mbanata and Sannio specialties accompanied by music and entertainment.
Note: The Pro Loco did not release a detailed musical program with the names of guest bands; official communication generically announced «the aromas of the kitchen, conviviality, music, and hospitality» as the hallmark of the two evenings.
Highlights 'Mbanata Festival 2026
- 'Mbanata according to the traditional recipe: wild field herbs, seasonal vegetables, legumes, and crumbled cornmeal pizza, prepared by Pro Loco volunteers.
- «At the table with… the flavor of stories», the inaugural event in Piazza Antinora with Mirko Frezza and Tullio Sorrentino, interviewed by Gabriele Di Marzo.
- The Queen's bean, a local variety that, according to tradition, reached the court of Ferdinand II of Bourbon.
- Piazza Largo di Corte transformed into a village banquet, with music and hospitality along the alleys of the historic center.
Prices 'Mbanata Festival 2026
Practical information — 'Mbanata Festival
How to get there
By car: Take the former SS 372 «Telesina» road (Caianello-Benevento route) until the exit for Ponte and San Lorenzo Maggiore, then drive up toward the town center. Be aware of roadworks on the Naples-Bari railway line in the Telese-San Lorenzo section, which may cause detours.
By train: The San Lorenzo Maggiore station, on the line to Benevento, is served by only a few regional connections per day; therefore, a car remains the most practical solution.
By plane: The reference airport is Naples-Capodichino, about 70 km away.
Parking and access
The historic center is small: you can park along the roads leading into the village and reach Piazza Largo di Corte on foot in a few minutes. During the festival evenings, some streets in the center may be closed to traffic.
Tips
- The festival is an evening event: arriving early helps you find a seat before the queues form.
- Bring cash: electronic payment is not always available at village festival stands.
- In the evening, even in July, the Sannio hills can get cool: a light sweatshirt is useful.
- For accommodation, the widest range of options is in Telese Terme, just a few kilometers away, featuring thermal hotels and bed and breakfasts.
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Where does it take place — 'Mbanata Festival
Piazza Largo di Corte
Piazza Largo di Corte, 82034 San Lorenzo Maggiore