Saperi & Sapori (History and Traditions in the Ancient Village of Gesualdo)
History, taste, and culture in the ancient village at the foot of the Castle
About Saperi & Sapori
Saperi & Sapori, the summer festival of Gesualdo
Saperi & Sapori — History and Traditions in the Ancient Village of Gesualdo is the event that, every summer, lights up the historic center of Gesualdo, a town in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Irpinia and inland Campania. For three consecutive days, the alleys, squares, and noble palaces surrounding the Castle become one large open-air stage, where food and wine, craftsmanship, contemporary art, and live music blend seamlessly.
This is not just a simple food festival: the idea guiding the organizers is that of an integrated system where food, art, architecture, and history merge into a single experience. Visitors do not just eat well; they walk through an illuminated village, enter palaces usually closed to the public, meet artisans at work, and listen to music in multiple spots throughout the town on the same evening.
One of the most beautiful villages in Italy
Gesualdo is listed among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and is inextricably linked to the figure of Carlo Gesualdo, the Prince of Musicians, one of the most original and restless madrigalists of the late European Renaissance. This musical heritage is not just a decorative detail: the event has made culture and music its cornerstone, bringing thousands of visitors every year beneath the walls of the manor that dominates the Ufita valley.
The Castle, noble palaces like Palazzo Pisapia, panoramic terraces, and the historic center's theater create a natural backdrop that few town festivals can boast. The very layout of the village, compact and walkable, ensures that the public constantly moves from one attraction to another.
The food and wine trail
The popular heart of the festival remains the taste trail, which in recent editions has featured over a hundred stands between food, wine, and crafts. The selection highlights Irpinian excellence and typical products of inland Campania:
- traditional cuisine stands with dishes from Irpinian gastronomy;
- local wineries, in a province that is among the most renowned in Southern Italy for great wines;
- wine gardens and beer gardens with local craft breweries;
- chef-led dinners, guided tastings, and taste workshops;
- workshops and market exhibitions of Irpinian craftsmanship.
Art, exhibitions, and talks
An important part of the program is dedicated to visual arts. Palazzo Pisapia, home to the House of Art, transforms into a contemporary art gallery, hosting collective exhibitions with artists from Campania and other Italian regions. Alongside the exhibitions, there are conferences, book presentations, and cultural talks addressing civil and social themes, chosen each year as the guiding thread of the edition.
Live music, DJ sets, and performances
From sunset until late at night, the village fills with sound: live concerts distributed across the squares, DJ sets at the foot of the Castle, street artists, theatrical performances, and roving shows. The number of musical events has grown edition after edition, with dozens of artists involved and a program covering very different genres, from folk music to pop, from electronica to singer-songwriter music.
An event for all ages
Saperi & Sapori is also designed for families: creative workshops for children, visits to cultural sites, sunset yoga, and panoramic aperitifs on the terraces complement the more festive and nocturnal side. The result is an event that manages to bring together very diverse audiences, from groups of young people from the province of Avellino to tourists discovering Irpinia for the first time.
Why it's worth the trip
In a Campanian summer dominated by the coast, Saperi & Sapori is the perfect opportunity to head inland and discover another side of Campania: that of hilltop villages, structured wines, peasant traditions, and a surprisingly vibrant local cultural scene. Three evenings are enough to get a complete picture of the territory, eating well and walking between stone and light.
Saperi & Sapori — edition 2026
2026 Edition: “Peace,” peace as a journey
From July 31 to August 2, 2026, Gesualdo, in the province of Avellino, hosts the thirteenth edition of Saperi & Sapori. The chosen theme is “Peace”: peace understood as a value to be built every day and as a dialogue between peoples, summarized by the image of a foot and the message “Every peace begins with a step.” The historic center is illuminated with the colors of the peace flag.
Culture and civil commitment
The most anticipated moment is the conference “A step towards peace,” scheduled for July 31, with the participation of Palestinian journalist and photojournalist Alhassan Selmi, winner of the International Golden Dove for Peace Award. The calendar also includes the presentation of the book “Attuare la Costituzione” by Luigi de Magistris, as well as meetings on peace and human rights.
Contemporary art at Palazzo Pisapia
The House of Art at Palazzo Pisapia hosts the exhibition “Steps of Humanity,” curated by Emanuela Conforti and Carmen Savino, featuring about twenty artists from Campania and other Italian regions, and the exhibition “Be My Voice – A diary for Gaza.” The initiative is promoted by the Kaos Association together with Insieme per Avellino e l'Irpinia, under the patronage of the Municipality of Gesualdo.
Music and novelties
Every evening, there are four live concerts and three DJ sets at the foot of the Castle, for a total of twelve concerts and nine DJ sets. Also debuting is the Villa Tre Colli Experience, a new format featuring aperitifs and DJ sets on the Mattioli Terraces. The organizers expect about 50,000 visitors over the three days, with 200 exhibitors, a dozen associations, 150 volunteers, and over 50 artists involved.
Programme Saperi & Sapori 2026
Friday, July 31, 2026
- Opening of the thirteenth edition, historic center illuminated with the colors of peace.
- Conference “A step towards peace” with Palestinian journalist and photojournalist Alhassan Selmi, International Golden Dove for Peace Award winner.
- Inauguration of the art exhibition “Steps of Humanity” at the House of Art – Palazzo Pisapia.
- Four live concerts in the village squares and three DJ sets at the foot of the Castle.
Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Food and wine trail with stands of typical products, Irpinian wineries, wine gardens, and beer gardens with craft breweries.
- Craft exhibitions, workshops, and tastings; exhibitions open at Palazzo Pisapia.
- Villa Tre Colli Experience: aperitifs and DJ sets on the Mattioli Terraces.
- Four live concerts and three evening DJ sets.
Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Last day of the food and wine trail and exhibitions.
- Presentation of the book “Attuare la Costituzione” by Luigi de Magistris.
- Four live concerts and three closing DJ sets at the foot of the Castle.
The exact times of individual events and the names of the artists on the bill are released by the Kaos Association and the Municipality of Gesualdo in the days preceding the event.
Highlights Saperi & Sapori 2026
- Thirteenth edition dedicated to the theme “Peace,” with the village illuminated in the colors of the peace flag.
- Conference “A step towards peace” with Palestinian photojournalist Alhassan Selmi (July 31).
- Collective exhibition “Steps of Humanity” at Palazzo Pisapia with about twenty artists, and the exhibition “Be My Voice – A diary for Gaza.”
- 12 live concerts and 9 DJ sets over three evenings, with over 50 artists.
- 2026 novelty: Villa Tre Colli Experience, aperitifs and DJ sets on the Mattioli Terraces.
- About 200 exhibitors including Irpinian food, wine, and crafts, 150 volunteers.
- Presentation of the book “Attuare la Costituzione” by Luigi de Magistris.
Prices Saperi & Sapori 2026
Practical information — Saperi & Sapori
How to get there
By car: Gesualdo can be reached from the A16 Naples–Canosa motorway, taking the Grottaminarda exit, followed by a few kilometers on provincial roads. From Avellino, take the SS7 heading east. On the evenings of the event, the historic center is closed to traffic: you can park in the areas outside the village and proceed on foot.
By train and bus: the nearest useful station is Avellino, connected to Gesualdo by provincial bus lines; the reference airport is Naples Capodichino, about an hour and a half away by car.
Admission and consumption
The event takes place in the open spaces of the village with free access to the trail; tastings, food and wine stands, wine gardens, and beer gardens are pay-as-you-go. Some specific events, such as themed dinners or dedicated experiences, may require reservations.
Tips
- Comfortable shoes: the historic center is uphill and paved with cobblestones.
- Arrive early in the evening to park near the village.
- Bring a light sweater: in Gesualdo, at about 650 meters above sea level, August nights are cool.
- For accommodation, it is worth looking at Grottaminarda, Frigento, and Ariano Irpino, just a few minutes away by car.
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Where does it take place — Saperi & Sapori
Centro storico e Castello di Gesualdo