Profumi del Borgo Antico Festival

A festival in the hamlet of Massaquano

The Profumi del Borgo Antico Festival is the summer highlight that brings Massaquano to life, one of the historic hamlets of the municipality of Vico Equense, in the Province of Naples, in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula. Every year in August, this small hillside village opens its narrow streets and the Belvedere terrace to visitors for a series of evenings dedicated to food, traditional games, and music. The event is organized by the Pro Loco Vico Equense, which includes it in the local calendar of gastronomic celebrations.

The scents that give the festival its name

The name of the event comes from the aromas wafting from the kitchens set up in the village: chefs and volunteers prepare traditional local peasant recipes using typical products from the area. The cuisine of the Sorrento Peninsula is made of simple ingredients—vegetables from terraced gardens, dairy products, olive oil, lemons, and aromatic herbs—served in portions designed to be enjoyed while strolling between the stalls, without formality.

• Dishes prepared on the spot with local raw materials
• Gastronomic stations distributed throughout the ancient village
• Tastings to be enjoyed outdoors on the panoramic Belvedere terrace

Traditional games

What distinguishes the Massaquano festival from many other food events is the return to the popular games of the past, re-enacted every evening in the village square. The historical repertoire of the event includes:

• the 'spacc e pes', a traditional local game;
• the evening tombolata (bingo), a gathering for all ages;
• the 'spaghetti-eating contest', a gastronomic challenge;
• the tug-of-war between teams from the hamlet;
• the Palo della Cuccagna (greasy pole), the highly anticipated final test.

These are the same games that were played in courtyards and churchyards before tourism changed the face of the coast: the festival recovers them as community heritage, rather than as a simple folkloric attraction for passing visitors.

Music and evenings at the Belvedere

The evenings are accompanied by live music and guests: past editions have featured local musical groups, dance performances, and entertainment for children organized by local associations. The atmosphere remains that of a village fair, with the non-negligible advantage of a position overlooking the Gulf of Naples, where the sunset arrives right on time to provide a backdrop for the first courses.

Massaquano, a village to discover

Massaquano is located in the hills behind Vico Equense, along the road that climbs towards Moiano and Monte Faito. The village retains an ancient layout, narrow streets and stairways, and the parish church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist; the Belvedere is the viewpoint that gives the festival venue its name. Visiting the hamlet during the festival is the most direct way to get to know a different side of the Campania region, away from the beach, made of vegetable gardens, dry-stone walls, and small self-organized communities.

A piece of the Vico Equense calendar

Vico Equense has long branded itself as a 'City of Taste' and hosts about a dozen gastronomic festivals throughout the summer in its hamlets: from the Riavulillo Festival in Arola to the Eggplant Festival in Preazzano, and from the Peasant Flavours Festival in Ticciano to the Potato Festival in Moiano. The Profumi del Borgo Antico Festival represents Massaquano's voice in this mosaic of flavours, which together tell the agricultural and gastronomic identity of this corner of Campania. Those staying in Sorrento, Castellammare di Stabia, or on the Amalfi Coast will find an authentic evening here just a few kilometres from the most crowded tourist spots.