Porcini Mushroom Festival

A festival in the heart of Cilento

Every summer, in the third week of August, the small town of Piaggine, in the Province of Salerno, comes alive for the Porcini Mushroom Festival. It is one of the most anticipated food and wine events in the Cilento hinterland: a grassroots event promoted by the local Pro Loco with the support of the Municipality, which has quickly become a reference point for those who love the mountain flavors of Campania. The village, nestled along the Calore river and dominated by the massive Mount Cervati, welcomes visitors from across the Vallo di Diano, the Gulf of Policastro, and the Sele plain for three evenings.

The Cervati porcino, the absolute star

Mount Cervati, at 1,899 meters the highest peak in Campania, is covered by extensive beech forests that provide the ideal habitat for Boletus. The porcini harvested here have firm flesh, an intense aroma, and an almost balsamic note that makes them unmistakable: they are the true treasure of the forests in this part of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The festival was created specifically to showcase this resource and, with it, the work of foragers, restaurateurs, and small local producers.

At the table: what to eat

The heart of the event lies in the food stalls, run with the simple and proven formula of a village festival: you pay at the register, collect your dish, and sit at the long outdoor tables. The menu revolves entirely around the porcini mushroom, prepared according to traditional Cilento recipes:

• homemade fresh pasta topped with porcini mushrooms;
• porcini mushroom risotto;
• potato gnocchi with mushroom sauce;
• grilled porcini and breaded, fried porcini;
• mushroom fritters;
• pork chop with mushroom sauce;
• cheeses, cured meats, and other typical local products at the exhibition stands.

Prices remain intentionally popular: in previous editions, first courses were priced around 6-8 euros and main courses between 7 and 10 euros, with local wine and desserts to round off the meal.

Music, folklore, and village atmosphere

Alongside the gastronomy, the festival offers live music and folk shows every evening: tammurriata, tarantella, and Cilento folk singing groups accompany the tastings until late at night. There are also areas dedicated to children, making the event suitable for families, as well as craft stalls along the town center streets. The atmosphere is the genuine one of southern Apennine festivals, where the line between organizers and guests quickly blurs.

The 2026 edition

The 7th edition is scheduled from Wednesday, August 19 to Friday, August 21, 2026, and will take place at the Rampa Cappuccini, a space that has become the food and wine hub of Piaggine in recent years. The festival is part of a rich municipal summer calendar that includes, among other things, the celebrations of the Madonna della Neve on Mount Cervati (August 4-5), the Madonna del Monte Vivo (August 14-15), the Ferragosto folk concert in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, and the celebrations of Saint Filomena (August 22-23).

Piaggine and the Cilento National Park

Piaggine is one of the villages that best tells the story of the inner Cilento, the land of pastures, transhumance, and forests. The settlement developed around the 12th century as a hamlet of the state of Laurino, in a sheltered position near a ford of the Calore river. Today, the village is one of the most popular gateways to the summit of Mount Cervati and its trails, and it preserves other deeply felt traditions such as the Cavatiello Festival and the famous Bride's Banquet. Visiting the festival therefore means discovering, beyond the dish, a piece of the identity of the Apennine Campania.

Tips for your visit

• Arrive early in the evening: the stalls fill up quickly starting at 8:00 PM.
• Take advantage of the day for a hike on Mount Cervati or along the Calore gorges.
• Bring a sweatshirt: in August, evenings at hilly altitudes can be cool.
• Check the final schedules on the Pro Loco Piaggine channels before setting off.