Sannio Archaeo Festival

A festival born from an exceptional archaeological discovery

The Sannio Archaeo Festival was born in Amorosi, a small town in the province of Benevento overlooking the Volturno river, as a cultural response to one of the most significant archaeological finds in Campania in recent years. In the spring of 2024, during preventive archaeological investigations related to Terna Rete Italia's work on a new electrical substation, a vast pre-Roman necropolis was unearthed: 88 burials spread over approximately 13,000 square meters, dating back to the final phases of the Iron Age and the advanced Orientalizing period (8th-7th century BC).

The tombs have provided a portrait of a hierarchical society: male burials with weapons, female burials with rich sets of bronze, amber, and worked bone ornaments, alongside belts and bronze sheet vessels. Two large tumulus tombs, with impressive circles about fifteen meters in diameter, marked the presence of high-ranking individuals in the landscape. The discovery was presented by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento.

From the Amorosi Archaeo Festival to the Sannio Archaeo Festival

The project was announced in March 2026 by the Pro Loco Amorosi APS under the title Amorosi Archaeo Festival - The Awakening of the Prince of Waters, with an initial date hypothesized for September. However, in July 2026, in light of new acquisitions and discoveries in the Sannio territory, the initiative changed scale and name: it became the Sannio Archaeo Festival, presented as the first Wide-Area project dedicated to archaeology in Sannio and a true cultural ecosystem capable of networking the archaeological excellence of the entire territory.

The organizers speak of a transition from a local dimension to a systemic vision, with goals of sustainable economic development and tourism promotion for inland areas, in line with the Campania Region's planning. Formal membership has been requested from the municipalities of the Valle Telesina.

The Awakening of the Prince of Waters

The subtitle chosen for the first edition directly evokes the monumental high-ranking burials identified in the necropolis and the deep bond between this ancient settlement and the Volturno river: the image of the "Prince of Waters" is that of a past that re-emerges to engage in dialogue with the present.

The declared philosophy is that of cultural restitution: not a simple exhibition of artifacts, but a shared narrative capable of involving scholars, citizens, and visitors in an immersive experience between past and present. Meanwhile, the materials from the necropolis are undergoing restoration and anthropological analysis.

Edition Zero: what we know today

The calendar initially hypothesized for September 2026 has been reorganized following the new discoveries. The organization is working on an Edition Zero, conceived as a moment for presenting the project and conducting archaeological simulations, intended to precede the full festival edition.

As of July 22, 2026, neither the precise dates, the program, nor the final list of participating municipalities had been announced; announcements are expected once planning is finalized. Therefore, we do not list unofficial dates or appointments on this page.

Who organizes and supports the project

• Organization: Pro Loco Amorosi APS, directed by architect Giovanni Ragone.
• Patronage: Province of Benevento, Order of Architects of Benevento, UNPLI Campania.
• Partners: UNPLI Benevento and the Scientific Committee of the Istituto Storico Sannio Telesino, which ensures the scientific oversight of the initiative.
• Excavation context: preventive archaeology investigations commissioned by Terna Rete Italia, with the Soprintendenza ABAP for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento.

Amorosi and the Valle Telesina

Amorosi is located about thirty kilometers northwest of Benevento, in the Valle Telesina, in a landscape of hills and vineyards crossed by the Volturno. With this necropolis, the territory acquires a new piece of its identity: proof that, as early as the Iron Age, the valley hosted a structured community.

For the Municipality of Amorosi and the entire province of Benevento, the festival represents more than just an event: it is an attempt to transform a scientific discovery into a permanent opportunity for storytelling, research, and attractiveness for the inland areas of Campania.