Nature Festival: Music and Flavors

A summer Sunday at the foot of Vesuvius

Nature Festival: Music and Flavors is the summer event promoted by the Municipality of Pollena Trocchia, in the province of Naples, in the heart of Campania. Every year in July, this Vesuvian town invites residents and visitors to climb up to the Carcavone Volcanic Cones, a geological site within Vesuvius National Park, for an evening that weaves together hiking, geological education, tastings of local products, and live music. The formula is simple and effective: you walk, learn about the volcano, taste what grows on these lands, and finish by dancing under the stars.

The Carcavone Volcanic Cones geological site

The heart of the festival is the location itself. The cones are small volcanic structures, shaped along the northern slope of the Somma-Vesuvius complex: a geological peculiarity that gives the Carcavone area its name and remains little-known even to many Neapolitans. During the event, the site is opened to the public with a guided tour led by geologist Paolo Beneduce, who accompanies groups through the conical formations, explaining how they were created and why they represent a precious testament to the eruptive history of Vesuvius. It is the easiest opportunity of the year to enter an area that is rarely traversed at other times.

The flavors of the Vesuvian territory

After the hike, the stalls of the agricultural and artisanal businesses of Pollena Trocchia and the Vesuvian district open. Recent years have featured participants such as Tenuta Manna, Basile Vini, MonteSommaVesuvio, Oleificio Punzo, Panificio Di Sarno, and La Fattoria di Doda: Somma-Vesuvius wines, extra virgin olive oil, bread and baked goods, preserves, and specialties from the Vesuvian vegetable gardens, served in a refreshment area with sandwiches and aperitifs.

• Tastings of wines from Vesuvian wineries
• Extra virgin olive oil and local baked goods
• Preserves, vegetables, and local agricultural specialties
• Refreshment area with sandwiches and aperitifs until late evening

Live music beneath the cones

At 9:00 PM, the stage set at the foot of one of the cones hosts the concert that closes the evening. In 2026, it featured the Casanova Swing Band, with a repertoire ranging from swing to funk, bossa nova, and dance rhythms; in 2025, the evening was entrusted to the voices of the Soul-Food Vocalist. The scenic lighting of the geological site and the profile of the volcano behind the stage make the musical moment the true hallmark of the festival: singing and dancing under the stars, as described by Deputy Mayor Francesco Pinto.

A municipal development project

The initiative was born from the municipal administration—Mayor Carlo Esposito and Deputy Mayor Francesco Pinto, delegate for events and territorial development—with the contribution of the Metropolitan City of Naples and the operational support of local Civil Protection units and the Red Cross. The stated goal is twofold: to raise awareness of a lesser-known natural heritage and to give visibility to small-scale local agricultural production in an area of Campania where quality agriculture coexists with very high population density.

Who is the festival for?

It is an event suitable for all ages: families with children, casual walkers, and enthusiasts of geology and food and wine. The hiking trail is short and accessible to everyone, but it takes place on natural terrain: closed-toe shoes, water, and a small flashlight for the return trip after sunset are recommended. Those who arrive early can enjoy the view of the gulf before the light fades.