Pork and Gnocchi with Sauce Festival (Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua) + Cesinali Canta

A village festival in the heart of Irpinia

Cesinali is a small town in the province of Avellino, nestled in the Sabato Valley just a few kilometers from the provincial capital in Campania. Every June, the town's calendar centers on an event that blends devotion, music, and gastronomy: the celebrations for Saint Anthony of Padua, anchored by the Pork and Gnocchi with Sauce Festival and the «Cesinali Canta» singing competition.

This is not a mass-market event; it is a community celebration organized by the Pro Loco of Cesinali alongside the San Silvestro Papa parish and the local municipality. Over the years, it has attracted visitors from neighboring towns and the Naples area. Admission to all events is free.

«Cesinali Canta», the singing festival

The first two evenings are dedicated to music. In Piazza Saverio Urciuoli, starting at 9:00 PM, the stage hosts the «Cesinali Canta» festival. Local voices and performers from nearby towns take the stage before a packed square, in a format that highlights emerging singers and youth. It is the moment the town gathers outdoors for the first time after winter, creating a typically Irpinian atmosphere of shared celebration rather than competition.

The festival: traditional gnocchi and pork

The most anticipated moment arrives on Saturday evening, when the food stalls of the Pork and Gnocchi with Sauce Festival open at 8:30 PM. The menu features simple, hearty Irpinian country cuisine:

• Gnocchi with sauce prepared according to the local recipe, the signature dish of the event;
• pork cooked according to tradition, which gives the festival its name;
• seasonal side dishes and homemade desserts;
• Aglianico, the great red wine of Irpinia, served alongside other local wines.

Live music accompanies the evening: in the last documented edition, dancing in the square was provided by the Palladino Group orchestra, with a repertoire of folk and dance music that keeps the square lively until late at night.

Devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua

Alongside the festivities, the liturgical program is managed by the San Silvestro Papa parish. The preparatory triduum, Eucharistic celebrations, and the blessing of the bread—an ancient gesture linked to the cult of Saint Anthony—lead up to the final day. On Sunday morning, around 8:00 AM, the arrival of the «Città di Serino» brass band announces the feast day, culminating in the solemn procession with the statue of the Saint through the town streets.

Piazza Saverio Urciuoli, the town's living room

The entire event is concentrated in Piazza Saverio Urciuoli, in front of the town hall: a single outdoor space where the stage, food stalls, and evening strolls coexist. This makes the festival easy to enjoy, as everything is in one place. Parking is available nearby, and the proximity to Avellino, less than ten kilometers away, makes Cesinali easily accessible.

Why it's worth the trip

Those looking for an authentic festival, far from the tourist circuits, will find a perfect example of how Irpinia blends popular faith, gastronomy, and social life. The quality-to-price ratio at the stalls is typical of Pro Loco events, and the proximity to major Irpinian wine regions—Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino, and Greco di Tufo are all nearby—allows visitors to build a weekend around the flavors of the Avellino province. A tip: arrive early on the night of the food festival, as queues at the stalls start forming shortly after opening.