Santa Maria a Vico Polenta Festival

A late-winter festival in the heart of the Picentini

The Santa Maria a Vico Polenta Festival takes place every February in the hamlet of the same name in Giffoni Valle Piana, a town in the province of Salerno overlooking the Picentino Valley in Campania. Born around the parish Oratory, the festival has grown into one of the most anticipated winter events in the Giffoni area: two days of conviviality where the sanctuary square fills with long tables, the scent of woodsmoke, and music.

The subtitle, "Awaiting the Giffoni Carnival," perfectly captures its purpose. The festival marks the beginning of the local carnival season, which culminates in the parade of allegorical floats built by the districts and hamlets of Giffoni Valle Piana—a tradition that reached its thirty-seventh edition in 2025. Visitors to Santa Maria a Vico will find not just an isolated event, but the first chapter of a calendar that involves the entire municipality.

Polenta, a mountain dish even in the South

Polenta is not a dish immediately associated with Campanian cuisine, yet in the inland areas of the Picentini Mountains, corn has played an important role in peasant diets for generations, especially during the cold months. The festival revives this memory: a humble, slow-cooked dish meant to be shared in large quantities to warm up a February evening on the hills. The result is a celebration that blends Northern gastronomic references with typically Southern ingredients, from broccoli to local sausage.

What to eat at the stalls

The food stalls are managed by Oratory volunteers and offer polenta in various versions, served in generous portions. In recent editions, the menu has included:

• Polenta Bolognese, with meat sauce and cheese;
• Polenta with broccoli and sausage, the most locally-inspired variation;
• Vegetable polenta, for those who prefer a meat-free version;
• Polenta with mushrooms and beans, typical for the coldest evenings;
• Penne Bolognese, broccoli and sausage sandwiches, sausage and fries;
• Local wine, soft drinks, and Carnival sweets.

The service is classic for a village festival: order at the register, pick up at the counter, and sit at the tables set up under the marquee, with takeaway options available on busier nights.

The Monumental Complex of the Sanctuary

The event is held in the Monumental Complex of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Vico, which is also the hamlet's main historical landmark. The sanctuary stands at the southern entrance to Giffoni and has ancient origins: tradition identifies it as a place of worship as early as the Roman era, later transformed into a paleochristian basilica and, in subsequent centuries, an important center of Marian devotion. The building, restored and reopened for worship after extensive work, preserves artworks, decorated altars, and an architectural layout worth visiting before or after dinner.

Folk music and festive atmosphere

Alongside the food, the festival features live folk music: recent editions have hosted traditional Campanian groups and "paranze," with tammorra drums, accordions, and songs that encourage the audience to dance between the tables. Sunday afternoon is traditionally more family-oriented, with entertainment for children and adults, in line with the "Awaiting Carnival in the Districts" initiative.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Oratory of Santa Maria a Vico with the patronage of the Municipality of Giffoni Valle Piana and the Municipality of Giffoni Sei Casali, and with the support of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno. Proceeds support the activities of the oratory and the parish community: it is a self-funded festival, built by the hamlet's volunteers, which is reflected in the welcoming, non-commercial tone of the event.

Why go

For those visiting the province of Salerno out of season, the Polenta Festival is a rare opportunity to connect with the life of a Picentini hamlet: no massive stage, no huge crowds, just an illuminated square, the sanctuary in the background, house wine, and the feeling of being a guest rather than a spectator. In case of bad weather, the event is generally postponed to a new date, as has happened in the past: it is always advisable to check the Oratory's social media channels before setting off.