Miniera — Visual and Performing Arts Festival

Miniera: the Cilento village becomes a treasure trove of stories

Every spring, Caselle in Pittari, a small town in the province of Salerno overlooking the Cilento hinterland, hosts Miniera, a widespread festival of visual and performing arts. The name is no coincidence: the project digs into the town's intangible heritage just as one would in a mine, bringing to light stories, gestures, and knowledge that the community shares with local and international artists. For a week, the alleys, squares, and courtyards of the historic centre become exhibition spaces, stages, and open-air workshops, with a programme designed to interweave visual, oral, and textual languages.

A project by Incipit with the Municipality of Caselle in Pittari

Miniera is promoted by the Incipit association, founded in Sapri in 2012 with the aim of building collaboration networks between artists at a local and international level, in collaboration with the Municipality of Caselle in Pittari and with the support of the European Union. The project arrived in the village on May 1st, 2024, with the inauguration of the Radici mural by Portuguese artist Mariana Duarte Santos. The following year, the initiative grew into a full week-long festival, capable of spanning multiple disciplines without losing the sense of proximity that defines it.

Visual arts, photography, and memory

Photography is one of the festival's main pillars. The Miniera photographic project, curated by Antonio Oriente, led to the creation of the photobook Cip by Arianna Parrotta, Giuseppe Pellegrino, and Massimo Ferrara, while the exhibitions set up in the town return a collective portrait to the residents. Alongside the images, there are installations and permanent interventions that remain in the urban fabric even after the festival ends, such as textile flying carpets and works designed to interact with the facades and resting spaces of the village.

Live music, street theatre, and workshops

The programme alternates between concerts, shows, and participatory activities spread throughout the day. In previous editions, the public has been able to enjoy:

• concerts in the squares and along the historic centre's route, ranging from singer-songwriter music to more energetic instrumental ensembles;
• street theatre and miniature theatre, with itinerant performances suitable for all ages;
• readings for children and mobile libraries, which bring books directly into the town's streets;
• workshops on weaving, plant transformation, and storytelling;
• walks for herbal exploration and sensory discovery in the village surroundings.

Caselle in Pittari and the Cilento hinterland

Caselle in Pittari is located in the Bussento valley, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, in an area of Campania where villages still preserve a compact urban layout made of stairs, arches, and small squares. It is precisely this small scale that makes a widespread festival possible: spectators move on foot from one event to another, traversing the town as if walking through an exhibition. For those visiting Cilento, Miniera is also an opportunity to discover an hinterland often left off coastal itineraries, amidst woods, springs, and still-vibrant agricultural traditions.

A free and participatory festival

Miniera is designed as a community project rather than just a series of shows: residents are involved in workshops, memory collection, and hosting guest artists. Admission to all events is free, ensuring there are no barriers to participation. Those wishing to take part in workshops or walks should enquire in advance with the Incipit association, as some activities have limited spots.

When it takes place

The festival traditionally takes place between the end of April and May 1st, taking advantage of the public holiday and the already mild climate of the Cilento spring. The dates for the next edition are announced by the organisers and the Municipality in the preceding weeks, along with the full programme of events.