Sciurilli and Pizza Cenerentola Festival

A festival dedicated to zucchini flowers in the heart of Irpinia

In Grottolella, a small town in the province of Avellino nestled at an altitude of about 580 meters on the slopes of Monte Toro, in Campania, the Sciurilli Festival has been one of the most cherished events on the local calendar for decades. The absolute stars are the sciurilli, battered fried zucchini flowers that Irpinian peasant cooking has turned into a small classic: few ingredients, strictly made-to-order frying, and a scent that is recognizable from one end of the town squares to the other.

Sciurilli, symbol of a humble and generous cuisine

The dialect term sciurilli refers to zucchini flowers, harvested in the morning and prepared during the day. They are a humble ingredient, linked to family vegetable gardens and an agricultural economy that has always coexisted with the cultivation of hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts, and apples. The festival offers them in their most traditional versions, particularly in zeppole coi sciurilli and battered fritters served hot, straight from the oil.

Pizza Cenerentola and forgotten flavors

The event takes its second name from Pizza Cenerentola, a local traditional pizza that accompanies the tasting of the zucchini flowers. It is a nod to 'cucina di recupero' (leftover-based cooking) consisting of simple recipes and local products: the same philosophy that led the event to be presented as a celebration of forgotten flavors, featuring dishes that are now only prepared in Irpinian homes on special occasions, such as 'pizza di granone' or 'menesta a pignata'.

At the table: the festival dishes

The food stalls, managed by local volunteers, offer a menu that in past editions has included:

• freshly prepared sciurilli fritters and zeppole;
• cavatelli with sauce and fusilli with cotechino;
• stew and grilled sausage;
• pork sandwiches and sausage sandwiches;
• montanara pizza and traditional local pizzas;
• Irpinian cheeses and cured meats, artisanal wines and liqueurs.

The wine list naturally draws on local production, from Aglianico to Fiano, two grape varieties that have made the winemaking of the Avellino province famous.

Music, dancing, and village atmosphere

The social side of the event is entrusted to roaming folk music groups that wander through the village streets, as well as evening dances in the square, craft stalls, and areas dedicated to children. It is a family-friendly festival where tasting blends with strolling and meeting between locals and emigrants returning for the occasion.

Grottolella, between the Carafa Castle and white apples

With just under 1,900 inhabitants and about ten kilometers from the provincial capital, Grottolella preserves a historic center dominated by the Macedonio Castle (later Carafa-Caracciolo), a medieval fortification with angular cylindrical towers built on Lombard defensive structures. Also worth a stop are the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Pozzo del Sale, a sulfurous spring known since the 12th century. The town is also known for its white apple, a sweet, long-lasting fruit, and celebrates its patron saint, Saint Egidio the Abbot, on September 1st.

When it takes place

The timing of the festival has changed over time: historically, the event was held between late July and early August, while the most recent documented edition, in 2025, took place between late May and early June. Before traveling, it is advisable to check the dates on the Grottolella Municipality channels and the local Irpinian press.