San Lorenzo Fair

A fair with Medieval roots

Among all the events in the Cilento calendar, few can boast roots as ancient as the San Lorenzo Fair in Laureana Cilento, a small town in the province of Salerno, Campania, overlooking the hills that dominate the Gulf of Salerno. The village was founded in the Lombard era around the castellum Lauri, built at the end of the 9th century to resist Saracen raids following the conquest of the castle of Agropoli in 878. From that strategic position, which allowed for control over the entire gulf and sightings of the castles of Agropoli and Capaccio, Laureana became the most important hub of the Cilento barony for over five centuries: by 1489, it was the most populous settlement in the area and hosted numerous noble families.

The "Cilento Market"

The fair was born precisely from this central importance. The San Lorenzo Fair, also known as the Cilento Market, was the most important of those held in Laureana and lasted eight days, from August 2nd to 10th, concluding on the day dedicated to the saint. Due to its significance, it was compared to the great fairs of the Kingdom of Naples: merchants, producers, and buyers flocked there from the entire district, traveling along the routes that connected the coastal ports to the hinterland. Its importance was such that, during the 17th century, every family of the Barony was required to provide an armed man to protect the market from bandits.

The return of the fair to the historic center

For a long time, only the memory of that centuries-old tradition remained. The Municipality of Laureana Cilento has decided to bring it back to life: with a public notice of expression of interest published in June 2025, the administration invited local associations, producers, artisans, merchants, business owners, and tourism promotion bodies to build the new edition of the fair together, with the stated goal of "recovering one of the most important and significant fair events for the village of Laureana Cilento" and promoting the territory at the same time.

What to find at the fair

The format chosen by the Municipality is that of a widespread fair in the historic center, open to diverse content. The activities permitted by the municipal notice range across several fronts:

• entertainment and leisure, with street performers along the village streets;
• cultural exhibitions dedicated to local history and identity;
• artisan stalls showcasing the crafts and products of Cilento;
• food stalls with typical local products;
• tourism promotion displays of the district;
• alternative mobility activities, to experience the village and its surroundings sustainably.

It is a formula that restores the fair's original character: not just a simple market, but a meeting point between producers and visitors, between the hilly hamlets and the Cilento coast.

Laureana Cilento, the village hosting the fair

Those who arrive for the fair will find a town that deserves a stroll beyond the stalls. The Feudal Palace was owned by the Sanfelice family from 1625 to 1822 and hosted Luisa Sanfelice, one of the most well-known figures of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799, for about two years. The heritage is completed by the Gentilizia Chapel of the SS. Annunziata and the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Acquasanta. The municipal territory also includes the hamlets of Matonti — where Saint Blaise is celebrated on February 3rd and the Madonna del Carmelo on July 16th — and San Martino, with its festival on November 11th.

When it takes place

The fair is linked to the feast of Saint Lawrence, August 10th, the night of the shooting stars: it is in those peak summer days that the village comes alive, when Cilento experiences its most intense moment and many emigrants return to their hometowns. The 2025 edition took place on August 9th and 10th. For 2026, the Municipality has not yet released official dates or a program: it is advisable to check for updates on official channels before traveling.