Scarola Festival

A village feast in the heart of Irpinia

The Scarola Festival takes place in Santa Lucia di Serino, a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, nestled about 400 meters above sea level along the Sabato valley, at the foot of the Picentini mountains. The event is held in the Rione Simeoni, the neighborhood gathered around the church of Constantinople, and for the locals, it marks the unofficial start of the summer festival season: it is, in fact, the first gastronomic feast on the local calendar.

From a devotional bonfire to escarole pizza

The event did not originate as a food and wine festival, but as the conclusion of a religious celebration. Every year, on the Tuesday following Pentecost Sunday, the image of the Madonna of Constantinople is carried in procession through the streets of the town, from the church of Saints Peter and Paul to the church of Constantinople in Rione Simeoni, where a solemn mass is celebrated with the participation of the faithful.

In the past, the day ended only with a large bonfire, in the center of which an escarole was hoisted on a pole: the faithful would roast potatoes in the embers, and the evening would continue outdoors among neighbors. From that simple gesture, today's festival has grown over the years, making escarole the edible symbol of an ancient rite.

The painting of the Madonna, a 17th-century oil on canvas that once adorned the ceiling of the church of Constantinople, is the pride of the district: the church was a stop for pilgrims heading to the sanctuary of Montevergine, and the canvas was restored in 2002 thanks to the contribution of the neighborhood residents and the commitment of the festival committee.

Escarole, a humble yet precious ingredient

In Campania, escarole is one of the most beloved vegetables in peasant cuisine: humble and inexpensive, yet capable of withstanding long cooking times and bold pairings. Here, it becomes the filling for the famous escarole pizza, a rustic savory pie made with leavened dough that is prepared in Irpinian and Neapolitan homes with olives, capers, raisins, pine nuts, garlic, and anchovies, according to variations that change from family to family. At the festival, it is baked in large quantities following local recipes, and it is the main reason why many visitors from neighboring towns come up to Rione Simeoni every year.

What to eat

The festival's food stalls offer a deliberately essential menu, typical of a village feast, with dishes served as the evening progresses:

• Escarole pizza prepared according to local tradition
• Sausage sandwiches cooked over the embers
• Hamburger sandwiches for the younger crowd
• A pasta dish served at the end of the evening, when the party is in full swing

Music and atmosphere

The musical entertainment is entrusted each year to a local band that plays live next to the stalls: in 2026, the stage featured the group Radio Star, while the previous year, the Magma Acoustic Trio accompanied the evening. No massive stages or large sound systems: just outdoor tables, the scent of charcoal, and people meeting and chatting until late at night. It is the typical atmosphere of the Irpinian village festivals, where the celebration is, first and foremost, a moment of community.

Santa Lucia di Serino, the home of the Moscati family

The village has just over 1,400 inhabitants and is linked to the figure of Saint Giuseppe Moscati, the Neapolitan doctor saint whose family roots lie right here: the district square and a small museum are dedicated to his name. A visit to the festival can therefore be an opportunity to discover a little-trodden corner of Irpinia, half an hour's drive from Avellino and just over an hour from Naples, amidst chestnut groves, springs, and the nearby Serinese area.

Why it is worth visiting

The Scarola Festival is not a large-scale event, and that is precisely its value: it is one of the few occasions where the bond between devotion, home cooking, and neighborhood life remains visible to the naked eye. Those looking for the Campania of authentic festivals, without tourist filters, will find it here in a single evening in May or June.