Montecorice. Guardians of the Sea

A project born to protect the sea

Montecorice. Guardians of the Sea is a project promoted by the Municipality of Montecorice, in the Province of Salerno, with the support of FEAMPA (the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) and funding from the Department of Agricultural and Fisheries Policies of the Campania Region (PN FEAMPA 2021-2027). Its stated goal is to promote sustainable fishing and local seafood, building a bridge between the maritime past of Cilento and its future.

This is not a traditional food festival in the strict sense, but a widespread series of events, conferences, workshops, and tastings that take place between August and September across the entire municipal territory, from the inland districts to the villages overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Technical assistance is provided by Cyclopes srl, in collaboration with local and national partners.

Where it takes place

The heart of the festival is the port of Agnone Cilento - San Nicola, where most cooking shows and fish-related workshops are held. However, events also reach Baia Arena, near the Baia del Sole beach, and the Marina Nuova seafront. It is a way for visitors to discover a coastline that remains uncrowded, located within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site.

What is on the program

The well-established format alternates between educational sessions and social gatherings. Recurring activities include:

• Cooking shows with local chefs, focusing on oily fish, lesser-known species, and zero-mile products;
• Educational and gastronomic workshops, such as "The Sea on the Plate - Discovering Local Catches," organized with Legambiente Campania to learn how to identify fish varieties of the Cilento coast;
• Creative workshops like "Artist's Nets," dedicated to the reuse of fishing nets and the aesthetics of maritime objects;
• Conferences and meetings on finance, tourism, and sustainable development, organized with partners such as BCC Banca Magna Grecia and Invitalia;
• Technical seminars on small-scale artisanal fishing, covering sustainability, conscious consumption, and biodiversity;
• Gastronomic evenings on the seafront with local restaurateurs, accompanied by live music.

Sustainable fishing and short supply chains

The common thread of the entire event is the short supply chain: shortening the distance between the fisherman and the consumer, adding economic value to local catches, and reducing waste by promoting so-called "poor" fish species, which are often ignored by the market but are of excellent quality. Fishermen, citizens, tourists, and operators are involved in an environmental education and active participation journey, which has already produced a documentary dedicated to the maritime traditions and biodiversity of the area.

A free event, suitable for families

All initiatives are free to attend, with limited spots for dining events and cooking shows: it is therefore advisable to book in advance by contacting the organizers. Creative workshops and environmental education activities are also designed for children, allowing families on vacation to participate easily. Events are almost always held outdoors in the late afternoon, when the summer heat subsides and the port becomes the town's natural living room.

Montecorice, between hills and sea

Montecorice is a small town in coastal Cilento that combines an hinterland of olive groves and Mediterranean scrub with a coastline of coves and unspoiled beaches. The maritime community of Agnone Cilento and San Nicola remains one of the most authentic on the Salerno coast, with small boats and traditional artisanal fishing. It is precisely this identity that the festival aims to share, bringing together culture, environment, and food and wine in a unique summer journey.

The 2026 edition

As of the update date of this page, the official dates for the 2026 edition have not been published. The project has followed an annual schedule so far with events concentrated between August and September: it is essential to check the updated calendar on the official website or the social media channels of the Municipality of Montecorice before traveling.