'O Cecatiello Festival

The festival celebrating Irpinian cecatiello

Every summer, at the end of July, the small town of Torre Le Nocelle in the province of Avellino dedicates several evenings to the dish that best captures the peasant cuisine of these hills: the cecatiello. This fresh, hand-rolled pasta is made from a simple dough of water and flour, shaped by hand into irregular cylinders—perfect for holding the hearty sauces of the Irpinian tradition. The 'O Cecatiello Festival was born to preserve this ancient craft, passed down through generations by the local women, and to share it with visitors from afar.

Felette: the heart of the festival

The event takes place in the Felette area, along Via Beniamino Rotondi, on the outskirts of the town. This open-air space is filled with long tables, food stalls, and a stage for live music. It follows the classic format of a Campanian village festival: you eat elbow-to-elbow with locals and visitors from neighboring towns, drink local wine, and stay late to enjoy the music. The atmosphere is informal and welcoming, making it a great spot for families with children.

The 2026 program

The 2026 edition took place from Friday, July 24th, to Sunday, July 26th, featuring three evenings of music:

• Friday, July 24th: The Contacunti took the stage with their repertoire of folk music and storytelling.
• Saturday, July 25th: An evening featuring Lumanera.
• Sunday, July 26th: The grand finale with the Fabio's Band.

Throughout the event, stalls served cecatielli alongside other local specialties. While official opening times were not released, in previous years, musical performances typically began around 8:30 PM, following the evening opening of the kitchens.

Dining: cecatielli, specialties, and local wines

The star of the show is naturally the cecatiello, prepared according to local recipes. Alongside it, the stalls offer other Irpinian culinary specialties and local wines, which are a point of pride here: Torre Le Nocelle borders Taurasi, Mirabella Eclano, Montemiletto, Pietradefusi, and Venticano—the heart of the Aglianico region and Campania's most prestigious wine appellation. The surrounding hills also produce olives for the «Irpinia - Colline dell'Ufita» PDO extra virgin olive oil.

Who organizes the festival

The event is promoted by the Associazione Madonna di Montevergine APS, with the patronage of the Municipality of Torre Le Nocelle and the collaboration of the Pro Loco Torre Le Nocelle APS. The festival is historically linked to the Madonna di Montevergine Festival Committee, which managed previous editions; it remains a grassroots event, animated by local volunteers rather than a commercial tourist attraction.

Torre Le Nocelle, an Irpinian village to discover

With just over 1,200 inhabitants and an altitude of 420 meters, Torre Le Nocelle is one of those inland Campania villages that you can explore in a half-hour walk but will remember for a long time. The bell tower likely stands on the foundations of the ancient watchtower that gave the town its name, while the Sanctuary of San Ciriaco is considered the most important in Italy dedicated to this saint. All around, a landscape of vineyards and olive groves slopes down toward the Calore valley.

Why it's worth a visit

The 'O Cecatiello Festival is not a massive fair; it is a genuine village feast, which is exactly why it is so appealing. If you are looking for the authentic side of Campania—where pasta is truly hand-rolled and wine comes from nearby cellars—you will find exactly what you expect here. Three evenings, one well-told dish, and Irpinian folk music as the soundtrack under the July stars.