Pro (Loci) Poesis
Two days of poetry, hiking, and folk music at Casale Leschito in Foglianise
About Pro (Loci) Poesis
Pro (Loci) Poesis: poetry that unites, in the village of Casale Leschito
Pro (Loci) Poesis is the cultural project through which the «Ugo Pedicini» Pro Loco of Foglianise, in the Province of Benevento, takes poetry out of the halls and brings it back to the squares, trails, and village tables. The name plays with Latin and the association's name: the Pro Loco, meaning «for the place», and the poetry of the place. Every year, at the beginning of June, the event occupies Casale Leschito for two days, one of the rural districts that make up the Municipality of Foglianise, at the foot of the Taburno-Camposauro massif, in the heart of the Vitulanese Valley.
Two days of verses, walks, and music
The program alternates between literary moments and convivial gatherings, with the idea that culture should remain accessible and alive, speaking to multiple generations in the same afternoon. The recurring ingredients of each edition include:
- the poetry competition dedicated to the memory of Maria Teresa De Cicco, with a public awards ceremony for the texts selected by the jury;
- the Massimo Maioli Prize, reserved for residents of the Vitulanese Valley, which highlights the poetic voices of the territory;
- a Social Prize, awarded through online voting;
- «Passi in versi», the poetic trekking that combines walking with reading aloud along the paths around the farmhouse;
- cultural meetings, presentations, and readings with poets and authors;
- children's activities, to introduce the little ones to words and storytelling;
- folk music and evening concerts, with folk groups and bands from the Sannio area;
- local cuisine, prepared by the Pro Loco volunteers and the women of the village.
«Passi in versi»: reading while walking
This is the festival's most recognizable format. Accompanied by hiking guides and volunteer environmental guards, participants walk the paths and country lanes surrounding Casale Leschito, with stops for poetic readings along the way. A simple and successful way to merge landscape and word: those arriving from outside discover a portion of the hilly Sannio area that usually remains off the tourist trails.
Foglianise, the village of grain
Foglianise is known throughout Campania for its Grain Festival in August, with large floats of braided wheat ears parading through the center: a tradition that has made the small Sannio municipality a reference point for Italian ritual craftsmanship. Pro (Loci) Poesis joins that calendar with a different, more intimate, and spring-like tone, shifting the focus from the town center to the upper districts, where the agricultural landscape remains unchanged. The program also features folk music, with the folk group Fortuna Folianensis, which is part of the village's musical memory.
A young project, born from the community
The event was conceived and promoted within the Pro Loco by AnnaMaria Bruno and Dario Forgione, and the first edition in 2025 saw participation exceeding expectations. The organizers still define it as a «young, embryonic project» and, after each edition, they collect public feedback via an anonymous questionnaire to refine and grow the format. Behind these two days are dozens of volunteers: those who cook, those who lead groups on the trails, and those who manage logistics and the shuttle service, with the support of the municipal administration.
Why it's worth visiting
It is not a large literary festival with thousands of spectators, and that is precisely its value: you listen to poems while sitting a few meters from those who wrote them, you walk, you eat together, and you end the evening with a concert under the sky. For those visiting the Sannio area in June, it is a concrete opportunity to meet a community, rather than just an event to check off a list.
Pro (Loci) Poesis — edition 2026
Pro (Loci) Poesis 2026, the second edition
On Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, 2026, Casale Leschito in Foglianise hosted the second edition of Pro (Loci) Poesis, the event by the «Ugo Pedicini» Pro Loco dedicated to poetry, culture, and sharing. Two days built around the idea that words serve primarily to unite people, with texts arriving from all over Italy and participation that the Pro Loco described as broad and exceeding expectations.
The competition and awards
The literary heart of the edition was the poetry competition dedicated to Maria Teresa De Cicco, accompanied by the Massimo Maioli Prize reserved for residents of the Vitulanese Valley and a Social Prize. The following awards were presented:
- First prize: Giovanni D'Alessandro, «Appartengo»;
- Second prize: Monica Schiaffini, «Il ricordo di te»;
- Third prize: Valentina Nastasi, «Possibilità»;
- Massimo Maioli Prize: Alberico Carapella, «Giovinezza»;
- Social Prize: Giovanni Cappello, «Eri lì».
Walks, music, and cuisine
Alongside the awards ceremonies, the «Passi in versi» poetic trekking took place with hiking guides and volunteer environmental guards, as well as cultural meetings, children's activities, and a table curated by volunteers featuring Sannio dishes. The musical portion combined the folk of the Fortuna Folianensis group, a performance by Mennato Tedino, and evening concerts by the Peppe Leone Band and Karazita; the event's images were captured by photographer Antonella Iannuzzi. At the end, the Pro Loco distributed an anonymous questionnaire to gather public feedback and grow what they still define as a young project.
Programme Pro (Loci) Poesis 2026
Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026 — Casale Leschito, Foglianise
Available sources do not report the exact times for individual activities. The two-day program included:
- «Maria Teresa De Cicco» Poetry Competition — reading of finalist texts and awards ceremony. 2026 winners: 1st Giovanni D'Alessandro with «Appartengo», 2nd Monica Schiaffini with «Il ricordo di te», 3rd Valentina Nastasi with «Possibilità».
- Massimo Maioli Prize (reserved for residents of the Vitulanese Valley) — awarded to Alberico Carapella for «Giovinezza».
- Social Prize — awarded to Giovanni Cappello for «Eri lì».
- «Passi in versi» — poetic trekking on the paths around the farmhouse, with hiking guides and volunteer environmental guards.
- Cultural meetings and reading sessions with participating poets.
- Children's activities.
- Folk music with the folk group Fortuna Folianensis.
- Performance by Mennato Tedino.
- Evening concerts: Peppe Leone Band and Karazita.
- Local cuisine prepared by Pro Loco volunteers.
- Shuttle service from Piazza Fiamme Gialle to Casale Leschito.
Highlights Pro (Loci) Poesis 2026
- Awards ceremony for the «Maria Teresa De Cicco» poetry competition, with entries from all over Italy.
- The «Passi in versi» poetic trekking on the trails of the Vitulanese Valley.
- The Massimo Maioli Prize, dedicated to the poetic voices of the territory.
- Evening concerts by the Peppe Leone Band and Karazita, following the folk music of Fortuna Folianensis.
- Sannio cuisine by Pro Loco volunteers, served in the village of Casale Leschito.
Prices Pro (Loci) Poesis 2026
Practical information — Pro (Loci) Poesis
How to get there
The festival takes place at Casale Leschito, Via Leschito 16, 82030 Foglianise (BN). By car: from the SS7 Appia or the Benevento-Caserta junction, you can reach Foglianise in about 15-20 minutes from Benevento, then head up towards the Leschito district. By train: Benevento Centrale station, then bus lines or taxi to Foglianise. Nearest airports: Naples-Capodichino (about 80 km).
Parking and shuttle
The organizers recommend parking in Piazza Fiamme Gialle, in Foglianise, where a shuttle service is available to take visitors to the farmhouse: the district roads are narrow, and the best solution is to leave the car in the village.
Tips
For the «Passi in versi» poetic trekking, you will need suitable footwear for dirt paths, water, and a hat; June evenings in the hills can be cool, so a sweatshirt is recommended. Casale Leschito is a rural district: there are no shops on-site, everything is provided by the Pro Loco stands.
Where to stay
Local accommodation is limited: farmhouses and small bed and breakfasts in the Vitulanese Valley (Vitulano, Cautano, Torrecuso) and hotels in Benevento, about twenty kilometers away.
Contacts
«Ugo Pedicini» Pro Loco of Foglianise, Via Umberto I 79, 82030 Foglianise (BN) — tel. +39 338 8163058, e-mail [email protected], website prolocofoglianise.it, social Facebook and Instagram @prolocofoglianise.
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Where does it take place — Pro (Loci) Poesis
Casale Leschito
Via Leschito 16, 82030 Foglianise