San Pasquale Baylon Feast and Spit-Roasted Pork Festival

A May festival in the heart of the Baronia

In mid-May, San Nicola Baronia, a small village of fewer than 900 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 610 meters in the upper Ufita Valley (Avellino province), hosts its most cherished seasonal event: the San Pasquale Baylon Feast, celebrated alongside the Spit-Roasted Pork Festival. It is one of those traditional Irpinian village festivals where the liturgical calendar and local gastronomy go hand in hand, transforming the entire village into a single, shared gathering space for two days.

San Pasquale Baylon, co-patron of the Sannicolesi

The Spanish saint, born in Torrehermosa in 1540 and died in Villareal in 1592, is commemorated by the Church on May 17th. In San Nicola Baronia, he is venerated as a co-patron alongside Saint Nicholas of Bari, the town's primary patron, who is celebrated on December 6th with traditional bonfires. The Church of San Pasquale on Via Vittorio Veneto, with its simple and solemn facade typical of Southern Italian rural architecture, remains a focal point for the community. The religious aspect of the festival centers here, featuring services and a procession that carries the saint's image through the town center.

The Spit-Roasted Pork Festival

The main culinary attraction is the festival dedicated to spit-roasted pork, long considered a symbol of prosperity in the Baronia's farming culture. Stalls open at noon, and the slow roasting over embers defines the day. The menu features:

• the classic porchetta sandwich, the most popular choice;
• cicatielli pasta with meat sauce and stew, staples of local Irpinian cuisine;
• montanare (fried pizza dough) and bruschetta with caciocavallo cheese;
• local Irpinian wines and products served at the committee stalls.

The local cuisine draws from a high-quality pantry: coppoloni peppers and friggitelli from the Ufita Valley, white garlic, and Baronia chickpeas. These humble, identity-rich ingredients find their most authentic showcase at festivals in this corner of Campania.

Evenings: live music and dancing in the square

After sunset, the festival shifts gears. Each year, the organizing committee invites bands and cover acts from the Campania circuit. In 2025, the stage hosted the Antonello Cuomo sings Venditti show, followed by a DJ set, while the Tarant Folk group was scheduled for the opening night. Folk music, tarantella, and classic Italian hits are the usual ingredients for these May nights, which are open to everyone and free of charge.

A village to discover

Visitors arriving for the festival will find a village worth exploring, including the Annunziata Church, built in 1566 and home to an 18th-century painting, and the Water Mill Park, which preserves two 18th-century mills. San Nicola Baronia is also the home of fascedde, hand-woven reed baskets that testify to an ancient craft now nearly extinct.

The 2026 edition

As of today, the Organizing Committee has not yet released the official schedule for the 2026 edition. The liturgical date of May 17th remains the usual reference point, and the festival traditionally takes place on the weekend closest to that date. It is advisable to check for final dates on the San Nicola Baronia municipal channels and the Sistema Irpinia portal of the Province of Avellino before traveling.