Paestum PGI Artichoke Festival

The PGI Artichoke, green gold of the Sele Plain

The Paestum PGI Artichoke Festival is the annual spring event celebrating the iconic agricultural product of the municipality of Capaccio Paestum, in the province of Salerno, Campania. The Paestum Artichoke has earned the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and is grown in the alluvial soils of the Sele Plain, where the mild climate and deep soil produce tender, thornless, and particularly meaty heads. The festival was created to showcase this excellence and the producers who sustain it, in a territory that is both agricultural and archaeological: just a few kilometers away lie the Greek temples of Paestum, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Gromola, the village that becomes the festival square

The heart of the event is the Piazza Borgo Gromola Exhibition Area, in the village of Gromola, a small rural hamlet north of the archaeological site. For ten days, the square is filled with covered seating, food stalls, producer and artisan stands, a children's play area, and ample parking—a setup designed for families and groups, ensuring the festival can be enjoyed even in case of rain. The 2026 edition, the 18th, was organized as per tradition into two blocks, spanning the April 25th and May 1st holidays.

Dining: the artichoke in all its forms

The festival menu is entirely built around the artichoke, offered in both traditional Cilento recipes and more creative versions. Dishes found at the stalls include:

• battered artichokes and charcoal-grilled artichokes;
• bronze-die pasta with artichoke cream and speck, made with flour from the sponsor Pasta Armando;
• the piadina with sautéed artichokes, speck, and cheese shavings, one of the highlights of the 2026 edition;
• side dishes, preserved vegetables in oil, and local products, including gluten-free options.

Alongside the food, the local market allows visitors to buy directly from Sele Plain producers: fresh artichokes, buffalo mozzarella from Campania, olive oil, preserves, and sweets.

Folk music, tammurriate, and DJ sets

The festival's soundtrack is rooted in the Campanian tradition. Every evening, folk music groups and paranza ensembles perform, with tammorra drums and songs accompanying dances late into the night. During lunch hours, the entertainment is lighter and more family-oriented. After 11:00 PM, the square changes pace with 90s dance DJ sets, highly anticipated by the younger crowd. Over the years, Gromola has hosted popular artists from across Southern Italy, proving how the festival has become a core identity event for the entire region.

Beyond gastronomy: conferences and regional promotion

The event is organized by the Hera Argiva Paestum Association together with the Consortium for the Protection of the PGI Paestum Artichoke, with the support of the Municipality of Capaccio Paestum. Every year, alongside the stalls, there is a space for reflection with experts, doctors, nutritionists, and industry professionals. In 2026, the conference was dedicated to the theme "PGI Paestum Artichoke: Mediterranean diet and internationalization," moderated by TG5 journalist Gioacchino Bonsignore. It was an opportunity to discuss exports, the promotion of the PGI brand, and the role of the artichoke in the Mediterranean diet, for which the Cilento region is a historical home.

Why it's worth the trip

The Paestum PGI Artichoke Festival is an authentic sagra with deep rural roots: you eat well, dance, buy local products, and soak up the atmosphere of the Sele Plain villages. Visitors from out of town can easily combine the trip with a visit to the Paestum archaeological site, local buffalo dairies, and the beaches of Laura and Licinella, just a few minutes away by car. It is a simple and genuine way to experience Cilento outside the peak beach season.