Sagra al Palio

A festival born in the shadow of the Palio dell'Anguria

The Sagra al Palio is the gastronomic fair that, since 2024, has accompanied the Palio dell'Anguria in Altavilla Irpina, a town in the province of Avellino overlooking the Sabato Valley in Campania. The initial concept is simple: to offer visitors arriving for the historical re-enactment a place to stop, eat, and listen to music, turning an afternoon of festivities into three evenings of conviviality. The result is an event that immediately found its audience among residents, families from neighboring towns, and emigrants returning to Irpinia for their August holidays.

The heart of the festival: Piazza Giovanni Paolo II

The festival's headquarters is Piazza Giovanni Paolo II, a large open space just a few minutes' walk from the ancient village of the de Capua family. This is where the food stalls and music area are set up, while the streets of the historic center remain the natural stage for the Palio pageant. The formula is the classic Irpinian festival style: long communal tables, service from late afternoon until late at night, affordable prices, and no barriers between those cooking and those eating.

On the menu: fusilli with ragù, cuzzetielli, and grilled meats

The festival menu is a small compendium of Irpinian peasant cuisine:

• Fusilli with ragù — the signature pasta shape of the area, handmade and served with traditional ragù;
• Cuzzetielli — homemade bread hollowed out and filled with sauce and meat, the ultimate peasant street food;
• Grilled meat — sausages, steaks, and skewers cooked on an open grill;
• Porchetta — served sliced, an essential presence at Southern August festivals.

The organizers emphasize the use of fresh ingredients and authentic recipes: this is the trait that has made the festival, since its very first edition, a recognizable event rather than just a simple refreshment area on the sidelines of the Palio.

Live music and karaoke

Every evening, the festival is accompanied by live music. The first edition also featured karaoke, requested by the organizers to engage younger people and broaden the event's appeal. The atmosphere is that of a mid-August village feast: a full square, different generations at the same table, and a program that doesn't need big names to be a success.

The Palio dell'Anguria, the tradition that gives the festival its name

The Sagra al Palio cannot be understood without the Palio dell'Anguria, the historical re-enactment that has, since 1979, reconstructed the arrival in Altavilla of Costanza di Chiaramonte, repudiated by King Ladislaus of Anjou and later the bride of Andrea de Capua, Count of Altavilla. The pageant brings hundreds of participants in period costumes to the streets, with flag-wavers, musicians, and trumpeters; the most anticipated moment is the donkey race, where jockeys from local towns bring a watermelon as a gift to the queen. By the 44th edition in 2024, eight municipalities were competing. The event is promoted by the local Pro Loco together with the Municipality and the Associazione Identità e Territorio, with the contribution of local volunteers.

When it takes place

The first editions of the festival were held in the August 16-18 window, with the Palio dell'Anguria scheduled for the final day, the 18th. For 2026, the dates have not yet been officially confirmed: at the end of July 2026, the Associazione Identità e Territorio convened an operational meeting in the Council Chamber to define the details of the event and coordinate the planned activities. Those planning a trip should check the channels of the Municipality and the Pro Loco before setting off.

Around the festival: Altavilla Irpina to discover

The days of the Palio are also the best opportunity to visit the ancient village of Altavilla Irpina, with guided tours organized during the event, and to see the Palazzo Comitale, which hosts the evening shows. The town experiences a second peak at the end of summer with the solemn celebrations in honor of San Pellegrino Martire, scheduled for the last days of August: those with time can easily combine the two stops into a single Irpinian getaway.