Porcini Mushroom Gnocchi Festival

A festival born from the woods

The Porcini Mushroom Gnocchi Festival takes place in Furnolo, a tiny hamlet in the Municipality of Teano, in the province of Caserta, along the road leading up to Roccamonfina. The landscape here is defined by the chestnut groves and forests of the Alto Casertano, a corner of inland Campania where mushroom foraging is still a cherished family tradition. The festival was born from this custom: to bring the region's most iconic product, the porcini mushroom, to the table for five evenings in July, paired with a humble, traditional Sunday dish like homemade gnocchi.

Handmade gnocchi, the absolute stars

The signature dish is handmade gnocchi, prepared with flour, water, and potatoes according to the local village recipe, and served with a rich sauce of fresh porcini foraged in the woods surrounding the village. Alongside the classic version, each evening offers different variations, ensuring that returning visitors always find something new to enjoy:

• gnocchi with porcini mushrooms, the festival's historic recipe;
• gnocchi with ragù, featuring a slow-cooked sauce;
• variations with sausage and wild boar;
• local main courses, grilled meats, and artisanal desserts.

The kitchen is run by local volunteers who prepare the gnocchi in large quantities in the hours leading up to the opening of the stands: it is this collective effort, even more than the menu, that gives the event its unique character.

Live music and folk dancing

The food stands open in the evening, typically from 8:00 PM, and remain active until late at night. Every evening is enlivened by live music, folk dancing, and performances held in the festival area: Campanian folk music groups, tarantellas, and group dances accompany dinner and keep the audience entertained until late. It is a simple formula, without massive stages or ticket offices, which explains why the festival is primarily frequented by families and groups of friends from neighboring towns.

Local producer stalls

In addition to the culinary offerings, the event hosts local producer stalls, showcasing mushrooms from the area and other regional products: preserves, cheeses, cured meats, and artisanal food crafts from the Alto Casertano. For those visiting the area, it is the most convenient opportunity to purchase directly from those who work in the woods and the small farms of the hilly belt.

Furnolo, Teano, and the surrounding area

Teano is one of the historic towns in the province of Caserta, famous for the celebrated 1860 meeting between Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II, and it preserves an ancient center of Roman origin with an amphitheater and a theater. Furnolo is located just a few kilometers from the town center, in a panoramic position overlooking the Campanian plain: a stop that pairs well with a visit to the Roccamonfina volcano, its chestnut groves, and the inland villages. The festival is therefore also a way to showcase a part of Campania that is less traveled than the coast.

Eighteen years of village celebration

Organized by the Madonna dell'Assunta Festival Committee, the event reached its eighteenth edition in 2026, confirming its five consecutive evenings in mid-July. Over the years, the festival has become a staple of the Caserta summer calendar, with ample seating areas and free parking nearby, while maintaining its original vocation: an event made by the village, for the village, and for anyone who wants to head up into the hills to eat well.