San Rocco and Santa Filomena Fair

An autumn fair in the highest town in Campania

At an altitude of 1,094 meters, Trevico is the highest town in Campania and one of the most stunning natural balconies in Southern Italy: from its narrow streets, you can enjoy a panorama that, on clear days, spans four regions—Campania, Puglia, Molise, and Basilicata. It is in this setting, in the heart of the Baronia area in the Province of Avellino, that the San Rocco and Santa Filomena Fair takes place. This event traditionally closes the cycle of Trevico's festivals, as the high-altitude summer gives way to the colors of the Irpinian autumn.

Popular devotion: San Rocco and Santa Filomena

Trevico's event calendar places the San Rocco festival on the last Sunday of September, following a month already packed with religious observances: the Madonna della Libera on September 8th and San Vito on September 9th. San Rocco, the pilgrim saint invoked against epidemics, and Santa Filomena, a young martyr whose cult is deeply rooted in the South, are central figures in the villages of the Campanian Apennines. The day weaves together religious rites—solemn mass and a procession through the historic center—with the civil and commercial dimension of the fair, following an ancient tradition that has linked saints to markets in Irpinian towns for centuries.

The fair, the market, and the flavors of the Baronia

The term fair is no coincidence: in the tradition of the Baronia towns, saintly feast days were the occasion for markets, the exchange of local produce, and meetings between neighboring villages. Even today, the day of San Rocco in Trevico maintains this dual spirit, with street vendors and local artisans alongside farmers' stalls. The Baronia is a land of wheat, potatoes, chestnuts, vegetables, and livestock: it is no surprise that the Trevico calendar also includes the Pepper Festival in early August and the Chestnut and Potato Festival between October and November, two events that share the same agri-food vocation celebrated by the September fair.

Traditions, sustainable development, and food education

In recent years, the fair has also taken on a role as a platform for public reflection on food and the territory. In 2025, the event, promoted by the Municipality of Trevico, became part of the regional traveling exhibition «Eccellenze e Tradizioni» (Excellence and Traditions) of the Campania Region, featuring a meeting at Palazzo Scola dedicated to the theme "Traditions for sustainable development and food education": conscious consumption, seasonality of agricultural products, food traceability, and healthy lifestyles were discussed with representatives from the agricultural sector, the GAL Irpinia, and regional institutions, followed by a final food and wine tasting.

Trevico, a village of stone and cinema

Visitors arriving for the fair will find a town that rewards slow exploration. The historic center preserves its medieval layout—Trevico was once the political and religious capital of the Baronia di Vico—with the remains of the castle at the highest point of the town and Port'Alba, the 1578 stone arch that leads into the ancient core. The Cathedral of the Assumption, with its stone facade and 18th-century bell tower, houses valuable artworks. A few steps away is Palazzo Scola, the birthplace of director Ettore Scola (1931), who dedicated some of the most famous pages of Irpinian cinema to his hometown.

How to experience the day

• When: Traditionally the last Sunday of September (in 2025, Sunday, September 28th).
• Where: Historic center of Trevico and Palazzo Scola, in the Province of Avellino.
• What to expect: Religious rites, a fair with market stalls, typical Baronia products, discussions on the territory, and tastings.
• A tip: At 1,094 meters, late September evenings are already cool, so bring a jacket; the sunset view alone is worth the trip.

The San Rocco and Santa Filomena Fair is not a massive kermesse: it is an authentic village festival where the community of about 1,300 inhabitants comes together and welcomes visitors with the natural warmth of Irpinian hospitality. For those who want to understand what "Alta Irpinia" truly means, this is one of the most sincere events in the Campanian calendar.