Peritolive

Peritolive, the new oil festival in the heart of Cilento

Peritolive is the winter event that the small town of Perito, in the province of Salerno (Campania), dedicates to freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil. Created to showcase the olive-growing heritage of this corner of inland Cilento, the event has established itself over the years as one of the most anticipated festivals of the holiday season in the Alento Valley, attracting visitors from neighboring villages and the coast.

The historic center as a gourmet trail

The event takes place along the alleys of the historic center of Perito: cellars, doorways, and small squares are opened and decorated to host stalls, while braziers and lights guide visitors through the winter evenings. There is no single festival area, but rather an itinerary that winds through the town, inviting you to discover it step by step, amidst medieval architecture and the Church of San Nicola.

What to taste

The common thread is the local extra virgin olive oil, the star of guided tastings and the base ingredient for the dishes on offer. The food stalls work with zero-mile products and serve specialties of Cilento cuisine:

• bruschetta and tastings of new oil straight from the mill;
• traditional peasant dishes prepared with local raw materials;
• Cilento street food, typical desserts, and local wines;
• guided tastings to learn how to recognize high-quality extra virgin oil.

Live music, crafts, and workshops

Alongside the gourmet trail, Peritolive offers live music every evening, with a program that highlights folk groups and the popular traditions of the South—past guests include Lanternina Folk, I Giganti di Varapodio, and Temèia—as well as DJ sets that liven up the squares until late. The experience is completed by local craft stalls and workshops designed for both children and adults centered around the world of olive oil.

A community-driven festival

The organization is managed by the Pro Loco Perito, which involves local volunteers, associations, and businesses. Peritolive is part of a year-round calendar of village life that also includes summer events like Cavatè and the Festa nel Bosco: a territorial promotion project that focuses on the bond between tradition, agriculture, and slow tourism.

Perito and the Cilento National Park

Perito has just over a thousand inhabitants and is located within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The municipal territory, crossed by the Alento River, also includes the hamlet of Ostigliano. Visiting Peritolive is a perfect way to combine a festival with the discovery of the Cilento hinterland, just a short distance from the beaches of Cilento and the archaeological sites of Velia and Paestum.

When it takes place

Peritolive is traditionally held between Christmas and the end of the year: the 2025 edition took place from December 27 to 29, with stalls also open for lunch on Sunday. The Pro Loco Perito has confirmed the return of the event in its calendar for December 2026, but the exact dates have not yet been published.