Sammaurese Sausage Festival

Half a century of tradition in the heart of Cilento

Every year, on August 11th, 12th, and 13th, the small village of San Mauro la Bruca, in the Province of Salerno, fills with visitors for the Sammaurese Sausage Festival. Established in 1976 by the local Pro Loco, the event has become one of the most anticipated highlights of the Cilento summer. In 2026, it marks its fiftieth anniversary, reaching its 48th edition following a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

The municipality of San Mauro la Bruca has just over five hundred residents and sits at an altitude of 450 meters on a hillside ridge between the Lambro and Palistro streams, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. For three August nights, the town square turns into a massive open-air dining hall, where the most authentic side of Campania is told through food and folk music.

Hand-cut sausage

The undisputed star is the local sausage, prepared according to ancient custom and "knife-cut": the pork, sourced from traditionally raised animals, is not ground but hand-processed—a technique that preserves the texture and flavor of the past. It is this artisanal touch, which has withstood the passing decades, that has brought fame to the Sammaurese sausage far beyond the borders of Cilento.

What to eat in the square

• Sammaurese sausage, the festival's signature dish
• Cilento-style fusilli with ragù, prepared according to traditional home recipes
• Ruspitedi and fried potatoes, classic peasant-style side dishes
• Local wines from the Cilento territory
• Artisanal desserts, with proceeds supporting the local parish

The stands are managed by volunteers from the Pro Loco San Mauro la Bruca: the service is convivial, typical of village festivals, featuring shared tables and generous portions, with local products accompanying every course.

Folk music and dancing until dawn

Each evening, the square hosts live concerts: folk orchestras, traditional music groups, and provincial bands take turns on stage, and after the live performances, the party continues with a DJ until the first light of dawn. It is a tradition that has been renewed for nearly fifty years thanks to the participation and enthusiasm of the community, which welcomes far more visitors than its own resident population for these three days.

The village and the Eucharistic Sanctuary

During the festival, the historic center remains open for visits: wander through the stone alleys to reach the parish church, inaugurated in 1885, and the chapel of San Mauro Abate, the surviving presbytery of the ancient church of Sant'Eufemia. Guided tours of the Eucharistic Sanctuary of San Mauro la Bruca are also available, featuring the story of the Eucharistic miracle, the crypt dedicated to Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon, and a tribute to Saint Carlo Acutis.

Why it's worth the trip

San Mauro la Bruca is just a few kilometers from Palinuro and the Cilento coast: the festival is the perfect opportunity to combine a day at the beach with an evening in the hinterland, amidst centuries-old olive groves, chestnut forests, and natural springs. For those visiting Campania in the days leading up to Ferragosto, it is one of the most genuine gastronomic appointments in the region, offering an unpretentious, family atmosphere that explains why the Sammaurese sausage has become a small symbol of identity for inland Cilento.