Pasta and Beans and Local Sausage Festival

The festival accompanying the patronal celebrations

Every September, Villaricca, a town in the area north of Naples, Campania, buzzes with popular energy. It is the time of the patronal festivities and the famous Festa dei Gigli, when the streets of the historic center are filled with lights, music, and devotion. Within this setting, the Pasta and Beans and Local Sausage Festival takes place, a gastronomic event that brings the most iconic dishes of the Giugliano peasant tradition to the outdoors and has become one of the most anticipated moments of the Villaricca autumn.

The Villaricca bean, the undisputed star

The true star of the evening is the Villaricca bean, recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (P.A.T.). Small, white, and round, it is locally called tondino for its shape and quarantino because its growth cycle lasts approximately forty days. It is still cultivated in small plots scattered throughout the Giugliano area using the traditional 'incannato' technique: the plants climb up canes, the pods are harvested green, and then dried in the sun before threshing and storage in cloth bags.

Its thin skin and quick cooking time make it particularly digestible and perfect for the Neapolitan pasta e fagioli, where it outperforms more common varieties. At the festival, it is served in the most classic version, with mixed pasta and croutons, in generous portions enjoyed at tables set up in the square.

Local sausages on the grill

Alongside the pasta and beans, the other pillar of the festival is the local sausage, prepared according to local tradition and grilled in front of the public. The aroma wafting through the stalls is an integral part of the experience: it is the most recognizable image of the festival, drawing entire families and visitors from neighboring towns. To complete the meal, there are rustic side dishes, homemade bread, local wine, and traditional desserts.

A deeply rooted tradition

The formula is not new. The historical programs of the Villaricca festivities—dedicated to Saint Roch, Saint Januarius, and the Madonna dell'Arco—already included the fagiolata, the pasta and beans festival with local sausages, and the spaghettata: popular evenings that accompanied the processions, the 'ballata del Giglio', and square performances. The festival is therefore much more than a gastronomic event; it is a collective ritual that binds together faith, peasant memory, and town identity.

Piazza Majone, the Baronial Palace, and the historic center

The heart of the festival is the historic center of Villaricca, with Piazza Majone and the Baronial Palace, which in the September calendar usually host events dedicated to taste, from show cooking to guided tastings of local products. During the same weeks, the Villaricca Bean Festival also takes place, deepening the bond between the town and its signature legume, while concerts, comedy shows, and cultural initiatives enliven other evenings.

What to expect

• Food stands with pasta and beans, grilled local sausages, and traditional side dishes
• Artisan stalls and exhibitions of typical products from the Giugliano area
• Folk music and evening performances in the square
• Activities for children and games, in a family-friendly atmosphere
• An authentic village festival atmosphere, without tourist filters

Tips for the best experience

The festival is an evening event: it is best to arrive early when the stands open to avoid the longest queues for the pasta and beans. It is worth combining the visit with exploring the historic center, the Baronial Palace, and the lights of the Festa dei Gigli, which completely transform the face of the city during those days. For those coming from Naples or the northern belt towns, it is a simple and affordable opportunity to taste a cuisine that survives primarily in homes and popular festivals.