Pietraroja Typical Products and Prosciutto Festival

A mountain festival in the heart of the Matese

The Pietraroja Typical Products and Prosciutto Festival is the most anticipated summer event in this small municipality in the province of Benevento, perched over 800 meters high on the eastern slopes of the Matese massif in Campania. For several evenings in August, the historic center and the central Piazza Vittoria fill with food stalls, long communal tables, and the scent of woodsmoke and cured meats. It is the festival through which the Pietraroja Pro Loco shares its territory in the most natural way possible: through food.

It is a down-to-earth, popular event where dishes are prepared on-site by local volunteers and producers, attracting visitors from across the Sannio region, neighboring provinces, and even further afield.

Pietraroja Prosciutto, the absolute star

The true symbol of the festival is the Pietraroja cured ham, one of the most iconic products of the Benevento mountains. Its fame is rooted in geography: the village's altitude and the cool, dry microclimate of the Matese allow for natural aging without artificial aids, resulting in meat with an intense aroma and a balanced, never aggressive flavor. The processing techniques—dry salting, pressing, and months of resting in ventilated rooms—have been passed down through generations of local families.

During the event, the prosciutto can be tasted in its purest form, sliced to order, or enjoyed as an ingredient in dishes served at the stalls, and it can be purchased directly from the producers.

Carrati, cheeses, and rustic cuisine

Alongside the prosciutto, the entire repertoire of Sannio mountain cuisine takes center stage. The highlight is carrati, a handmade fresh pasta typical of Pietraroja, traditionally served with lamb ragù, walnuts, and local pecorino cheese: a hearty, ancient dish that makes the trip worthwhile on its own. The stalls also feature:

• Artisanal cheeses and pecorinos from the Matese area;
• Cured meats of local production, in addition to the prosciutto;
• Rustic soups and lamb-based dishes prepared according to family recipes;
• Homemade bread and baked goods;
• Matese honey and traditional Sannio desserts;
• Wines and products from local farms.

Stalls, taste workshops, and folk music

The format is that of a widespread tasting: you buy a ticket, wander between the food stands, and eat at the tables set up in the square and adjacent spaces, which can accommodate up to a thousand guests during the busiest editions. The gastronomic program is complemented by taste workshops, meetings with producers, local craft exhibitions, and evenings of live folk music, with entertainment designed for all ages. The atmosphere is typical of Southern village festivals: people eat late, linger to chat in the alleys, and the evening flows by without rigid schedules.

Ciro the dinosaur and the Geopaleontological Park

Pietraroja is not only famous for its prosciutto. The village is internationally known for its geopaleontological site, where Ciro—scientifically known as Scipionyx samniticus—was discovered, considered the first dinosaur fossil found in Italy. The Paleolab, the museum of the Geopaleontological Park, tells this story and showcases the area's fossil deposits. During the festival, guided tours of the historic center and the museum are usually available by reservation, along with weekend excursions and horseback trekking in the surroundings.

Those with extra time can combine the festival with a walk toward Monte Mutria, the Titerno gorge, the Trabbucco sinkhole, or the Grotta delle Fate, and visit the church of Santa Maria Assunta with its Romanesque portal.

When it takes place and how to get information

The festival is traditionally held in the second half of August and lasts for four days. The exact dates change from year to year and are announced by the Pietraroja Pro Loco a few days before the stalls open, through their website and the local Sannio press. Those wishing to plan their visit in advance can contact the association directly, which also manages reservations for guided tours.