Sagra r lu p'zzirr fritt

A peasant tradition in Piazza Roma

The Sagra r lu p'zzirr fritt is the gastronomic event that brings one of the simplest and most iconic recipes of Eastern Irpinia back to Piazza Roma, in the heart of Cairano, every summer. Organized by the Pro Loco Cairano together with the municipal administration and Unpli, the festival turns this small village in the Province of Avellino, Campania, into a large open-air banquet where people eat, chat, and dance until late at night.

What is «lu p'zzirr fritt»?

The pizzillo — p'zzirr in the local Cairano dialect — is born from just three ingredients: water, flour, and criscito, the traditional homemade sourdough starter. It is essentially leftover bread dough from the previous day, which peasant families would fry and fill with whatever was left in the pantry for a quick breakfast to take to the fields. Once a humble peasant food, the pizzillo has become the signature dish of the Cairano community and the perfect excuse for a village celebration.

• Dough: Water, flour, and criscito, left to rise just like homemade bread.
• Cooking: Fried on the spot in front of the public, served piping hot.
• Filling: Flexible, depending on pantry availability — the most traditional version remains the simple one, just lightly salted.

Cairano, the village on the cliff

Cairano is one of the smallest municipalities in Campania: a few hundred inhabitants, a compact historic center, and a spectacular position at about 770 meters above sea level, on a cliff overlooking the upper Ofanto valley. The village is known for its hypogean caves carved into the rock, its ancient alleyways, and a cultural vocation that has brought theater, music, and author festivals to these heights over the years. The festival is part of this context: it is not just a gastronomic evening, but an opportunity to showcase a place that is usually passed through without stopping.

Folk music and conviviality

The evening usually kicks off at 8:30 PM, when the frying stations are lit in the square and the tables are set. The musical program has always favored folk and traditional repertoires: recent editions have featured groups like «Gli amici del Folk» and «Angeli della notte», with tarantellas, tammurriate, and traditional Irpinian songs accompanying the tastings until late.

Recent editions

• 6th edition — August 5, 2023, Piazza Roma, with «Gli amici del Folk».
• 7th edition — August 3, 2024, Piazza Roma, with «Angeli della notte».
• 8th edition — July 12, 2025, Piazza Roma: an evening dedicated to the ancient flavors of traditional dishes, accompanied by great music.

Why it's worth the trip

It is a small, authentic, and unfiltered festival: no massive stages or endless queues, just an entire village cooking for those who arrive. For those visiting Irpinia, the Sagra r lu p'zzirr fritt is also a great way to discover an inland area often overlooked by classic itineraries, located just a short distance from the towns of Upper Irpinia and the Aglianico wine production zones.

When it takes place

The date is not fixed: in recent years, the festival has been held between mid-July and early August, always on a Saturday evening. At the time of writing, the 2026 edition has not yet been officially announced: it is best to follow the Pro Loco Cairano channels, the Municipality of Cairano communications, and the Sistema Irpinia portal of the Province of Avellino to find out the date as soon as it is released.