San Martino Festival in Acquavena

An autumn festival in the heart of lower Cilento

The San Martino Festival in Acquavena is one of the most cherished autumn events in the municipality of Roccagloriosa, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of southern Campania. It takes place in November, around St. Martin's Day, when rural tradition dictates that the must has turned into wine and chestnuts arrive on the table. It is a village festival in the most authentic sense: born from the community, organized by the parish, and filling the alleys of a hamlet with only a few hundred inhabitants.

Acquavena, the village of springs

Acquavena is a hamlet of Roccagloriosa nestled at the foot of Mount Bulgheria, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. Its name refers to the numerous water springs that mark this stretch of the Cilento mountains. The devotional center of the town is the church of Santa Maria la Vena, also known as the 'Potentissima', whose origins date back to the early 11th century and which saw its greatest devotional splendor between the 17th and 18th centuries. The festival centers around the small square named after the saint: narrow streets, exposed stone, festive lights, and an urban layout that has remained largely intact.

The table: Cilento flavors of San Martino

The gastronomic heart of the event is a path of stalls offering traditional autumn Cilento dishes. In recent editions, the menu has included:

• Cicciata, the typical legume and cereal soup of the peasant tradition;
• Cavatelli al sugo, fresh homemade pasta;
• Broccoli and sausage, a classic combination for the cold season;
• Gratin peppers;
• Zeppole cresciute and pastorelle among the fried desserts;
• Local wine and draft beer.

This is the repertoire that accompanies the St. Martin's Day tradition throughout Cilento, traditionally linked to the tasting of new wine.

Folk music in the alleys

The evening is enlivened by live music: in the 2025 edition, the group Kiepo', highly popular in the area, accompanied the public with a repertoire of folklore, tradition, and folk sounds, moving along the illuminated streets of the village. The format is itinerant: you eat while walking, stop at a stall, and continue following the music.

A tradition since 1994

The festival was born in 1994 and is organized by the Maria SS. del Carmine Parish with the patronage of the Municipality of Roccagloriosa. Over more than thirty years, it has become one of the most attended events in the area, capable of attracting visitors, families, and food and wine enthusiasts from all over lower Cilento and the Gulf of Policastro. The organizers describe it as a meeting point between religious tradition, historical memory, and community value: a way to bring the town together in a season when summer tourism has already faded.

When it takes place

The event falls in November, near November 11th, St. Martin's Day. The 31st edition was held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, starting at 8:00 PM. The date for the 2026 edition has not yet been announced: it is advisable to follow the parish and Roccagloriosa municipality channels in the preceding weeks.

What to see nearby

Those arriving in Acquavena can combine the festival with a visit to the municipal seat, Roccagloriosa, a village perched at over 400 meters above sea level, known for its important Lucanian archaeological site and the museum that preserves its artifacts. The Gulf of Policastro, with Marina di Camerota and Palinuro, can be reached in a short time from the Cilento coast.