Roscigno Vecchia is Alive

A village frozen in time comes back to life

Some places seem to hold their breath: Roscigno Vecchia, in the Municipality of Roscigno (Province of Salerno, Campania), is one of them. Stone houses overlooking a square that has remained almost intact, the church dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, carved doorways, and the silence of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is here that, in the height of summer, the "Roscigno Vecchia is Alive" festival shines a light on a town that history had gradually emptied, transforming it for a few days into an open-air stage.

A festival born from a pact between institutions and the community

The event was born from an agreement between the Municipality of Roscigno, the Fondazione Monte Pruno, and the Pro Loco Roscigno Vecchia, with the support of Banca Monte Pruno, the Circolo Banca Monte Pruno, the Associazione Monte Pruno Giovani, and dLiveMedia. The organizers' stated goal is not just to fill a summer calendar, but to build a quality cultural proposal capable of drawing attention — and more conscious tourism — to the inland areas of Cilento, which are too often left on the margins compared to the coast. Mayor Pino Palmieri spoke of the "beauty of our village and the desire to revive it with quality proposals"; the president of the Fondazione Monte Pruno, Michele Albanese, defined it as "a place of the soul, a treasure chest of history and identity."

Sunset music and gala evenings

The festival's formula alternates between two styles. On one hand, sunset concerts, when the grazing light on the abandoned houses reaches its best moment and the square becomes a natural soundbox: chamber music, wind ensembles, and groups from local music academies. On the other, gala evenings, interview-style meetings with well-known faces from Italian entertainment and music, hosted by journalists, which in the 2025 edition brought actress Chiara Francini and musician Roby Facchinetti to Roscigno. To close, more informal evenings with live performances and DJ sets.

• Sunset concerts in the village square
• Gala evenings with guests from Italian entertainment and music
• Ensembles and music academies from the Cilento area
• Opening of the village museum and cultural spaces for the duration of the festival
• Musical evenings with live performances and DJ sets

Roscigno Vecchia, "the walking village"

To understand why this festival has value beyond the program, one must know the history of the place. Starting in the early 20th century, landslides made the inhabited center of Roscigno increasingly unsafe: residents were invited to move further uphill, where Roscigno Nuova was born. The old town slowly emptied, but it was not demolished or rebuilt: it remained standing, with its streets, fountain, square, stables, and homes. Hence the nickname "the walking village" and the definition, recurring in travel literature, of an open-air museum of southern peasant civilization. Today, the village hosts a museum and exhibition spaces managed by the Pro Loco, which remain open during the festival to guide visitors on a journey of "welcome, storytelling, and memory," as described by Pro Loco president Franco Palmieri.

The context: inland Cilento

Roscigno is located in the heart of inland Cilento, a short distance from Sacco, Corleto Monforte, Bellosguardo, and the Alburni massif. It is a territory of forests, springs, and small villages, where the Mediterranean diet is not a slogan but a daily practice: extra virgin olive oil, legumes, goat cheeses, and wood-fired bread. Those arriving for a concert can easily extend their visit to a full day, exploring trails, karst caves, and local trattorias. In the local calendar, the summer festival joins other village events, such as the Wild Asparagus Festival in spring and "September in the Village" at the end of summer.

What to expect from the 2026 edition

At the time of writing, the 2026 summer calendar for the festival has not yet been published by the organizers. For 2026, the Municipality and the Pro Loco have instead announced the participatory project "Roscigno Vecchia Museum City," with meetings open to the public on the last Sunday of every month, the "Weekend in the Village" with guided tours by reservation, and the return of "September in the Village." It is therefore advisable to check directly with the Pro Loco Roscigno Vecchia or the Municipality of Roscigno before planning your trip.