MercAntico — Antiques and Collectibles Market of San Lorenzello
Antiques, vintage finds, and artistic ceramics in the Sannio village, two Sundays a month
About MercAntico
MercAntico, antiques in the village of ceramics
MercAntico is the antiques, vintage, and collectibles market that has enlivened the historic center of San Lorenzello since 1991. This small town of just over two thousand inhabitants is located in the province of Benevento, in the heart of the Sannio and Titerno Valley, in Campania. It is not a one-off fair but a recurring event that returns two Sundays a month, all year round: a formula that, over more than thirty years, has turned a secluded village into a well-known destination for collectors from all over Italy.
The second and last Sunday of the month
The MercAntico calendar follows a simple and constant rule: the second and last Sunday of every month. Stalls generally open in the morning, around 9:00 AM, and remain active until late afternoon, with flexible hours depending on the season and turnout. Admission is free, and parking in the areas on the outskirts of the historic center is free of charge: just arrive and let the alleys guide you.
What you will find between Via Roma and Via Sorripe
The uniqueness of MercAntico lies in its setting. The exhibitors—about fifty, coming from Campania and neighboring regions—do not just occupy streets and small squares, but primarily the ancient artisan workshops and ground-floor spaces along Via Roma and Via Sorripe, which return to being exhibition and sales areas for the day. It is a market that you visit by entering and exiting the village houses, rather than just walking between gazebos.
- Period furniture and restored home decor accessories
- Artistic ceramics of local production, both antique and contemporary
- Prints, paintings, frames, copperware, and devotional objects
- Vintage and retro items: radios, toys, records, signs, musical instruments
- Books, postcards, coins, medals, and small collectibles
- Typical Sannio products: olive oil, wine, taralli, preserves, and cheeses
Alongside the stalls, there are plenty of food stands serving rustic Sannio cuisine, making the visit an opportunity for a simple and hearty lunch.
The village of ceramics
Those who arrive in San Lorenzello soon discover that antiques here are not just a tourist addition, but the natural extension of an ancient vocation. Together with nearby Cerreto Sannita, San Lorenzello is one of the two historic centers of Sannio artistic ceramics: an art that flourished especially after the 1688 earthquake, favored by the clay of the Titerno River and the minerals used to prepare the colors. Since 1997, the production of the two towns has been protected by the Artistic and Traditional Ceramics label. On MercAntico days, many ceramic workshops and factories remain open to the public, and some editions feature live demonstrations of throwing and decoration.
Special Sundays with the Fiera del Bagagliaio
Some dates on the calendar become full weekends: on these occasions, MercAntico is joined by the Fiera del Bagagliaio (Car Boot Sale) of Melizzano, a market where private individuals sell directly from their car trunks or a small table—clothing, books, toys, musical instruments, brocantage, and art objects. The result is a double route that multiplies the chances of finding the right piece, enriched by live music, photography exhibitions, and small-scale street theater throughout the village.
Why it is worth the trip to Sannio
MercAntico is not a market of huge numbers and does not try to be: its value lies in the relationship between the items for sale and the place that hosts them. The historic center of San Lorenzello, with its stone portals, courtyards, and uphill alleys, acts as a natural frame, and the monthly frequency allows you to return several times a year, finding different merchandise each time. For the Municipality of San Lorenzello and the entire Benevento Sannio area, the event is also a tool for regional promotion: a Sunday at MercAntico is easily combined with a visit to the ceramic workshops of Cerreto Sannita, a tour of the Titerno Valley, or a stop at the slopes of the Matese massif.
MercAntico — edition 2026
MercAntico 2026: twelve months of market
For 2026, MercAntico remains faithful to its historic schedule: the second and last Sunday of every month, from the heart of winter to the Sundays between Christmas and New Year. The historic center of San Lorenzello, in the province of Benevento, is closed to traffic, and the ancient artisan workshops of Via Roma and Via Sorripe reopen as exhibition spaces.
The most documented date of the first part of the year was Sunday, April 26, 2026, while the calendar resumes with continuity in the second half of the year: August 9 and 30, September 13 and 27, October 11 and 25, November 8 and 29, December 13 and 27. Admission is free, and the formula remains that of a widespread market, to be explored by entering the courtyards and ground-floor rooms of the village.
As every year, some Sundays may host additional initiatives — ceramic demonstrations, live music, exhibitions, or editions extended to Saturday in combination with the Fiera del Bagagliaio: updates are published from time to time by the Municipality and on the event's Facebook page.
Programme MercAntico 2026
Formula — MercAntico is held on the second and last Sunday of every month, from the morning (around 9:00 AM) until late afternoon, in the historic center of San Lorenzello: Via Roma, Via Sorripe, alleys, courtyards, and small squares of the village.
2026 Calendar (second and last Sunday of the month)
- January: Sunday 11 and Sunday 25
- February: Sunday 8 and Sunday 22
- March: Sunday 8 and Sunday 29
- April: Sunday 12 and Sunday 26
- May: Sunday 10 and Sunday 31
- June: Sunday 14 and Sunday 28
- July: Sunday 12 and Sunday 26
- August: Sunday 9 and Sunday 30
- September: Sunday 13 and Sunday 27
- October: Sunday 11 and Sunday 25
- November: Sunday 8 and Sunday 29
- December: Sunday 13 and Sunday 27
During the day
- About 50 exhibitors of antiques, vintage items, and small collectibles, coming from Campania and neighboring regions
- Period furniture, artistic ceramics, paintings and prints, copperware, books, records, toys, musical instruments, and curiosities
- Typical Sannio product stalls: olive oil, wine, taralli, preserves, cheeses
- Food stands with rustic Sannio cuisine
- Ceramic workshops and factories of the village open to the public
Dates may be subject to change due to bad weather or overlap with other events: it is advisable to verify the confirmation of the individual Sunday at the Municipality of San Lorenzello or on the Facebook page "Mercantico San Lorenzello".
Highlights MercAntico 2026
- Two events per month throughout 2026: second and last Sunday
- An antiques market hosted inside ancient artisan workshops, not just on the streets
- About fifty exhibitors featuring period furniture, vintage items, and collectibles
- Artistic ceramics of San Lorenzello and Cerreto Sannita, protected by the Artistic and Traditional Ceramics label
- Typical Sannio products and food stands with local rustic cuisine
- Free admission, free parking, historic center closed to traffic
Prices MercAntico 2026
Practical information — MercAntico
How to get there
San Lorenzello can be reached by car from the SS 372 Telesina (Telese Terme exit, then follow signs for Cerreto Sannita) and from the SS 87 Sannitica: about 30 km from Benevento and about 80 km from Naples. By train, the most convenient station is Telese Terme-Cerreto, on the Caserta-Benevento line, about ten kilometers away, connected by local bus lines. On market days, the historic center is closed to traffic: you can park for free in the surrounding areas.
Hours and admission
Stalls are generally active from the morning (from about 9:00 AM) to late afternoon. Free admission, no ticket or reservation required. Hours may vary with the season and weather: it is advisable to check the confirmation of the date in the days prior.
Information
Municipality of San Lorenzello, Via III Magi — tel. +39 0824 815134 and +39 0824 815263. Updates on individual Sundays can be found on the Facebook page "Mercantico San Lorenzello".
Tips
- Arrive early in the morning: the best pieces are found in the first hours
- Bring cash, as not all exhibitors accept electronic payments
- Wear comfortable shoes: the village has sloping alleys and stone paving
- Combine the visit with the ceramic workshops of San Lorenzello and Cerreto Sannita
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Where does it take place — MercAntico
Centro storico di San Lorenzello (Via Roma, Via Sorripe)
Via Roma e Via Sorripe, centro storico, 82030 San Lorenzello