Sfrionzola and Local Sausage Festival

A December festival in the heart of the Alburni

The Sfrionzola and Local Sausage Festival is the most anticipated gastronomic event of the year in Ottati, a small town nestled at an altitude of about 530 meters in the Alburni mountains, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. For over thirty years, the Pro Loco of Ottati, together with the Municipality and local associations, has opened the alleys of the historic center on the first weekend of December to showcase a dish that cannot be found elsewhere in Campania: sfrionzola.

What is sfrionzola?

Sfrionzola originated from the peasant tradition of pig slaughtering, one of the few days of abundance in the agricultural year. On that occasion, families had to feed relatives and neighbors without using the prime cuts, which were reserved for cured meats: they used the less noble parts, shoulder and belly, cut into small pieces and slow-cooked in an iron pan with olive oil. At the end of the cooking process, small red pickled peppers—another local specialty—were added, resulting in a dense, flavorful, and slightly spicy preparation. The Campania Region lists it among the traditional agri-food products linked to the Ottati area, where some butchers still prepare it throughout the winter season.

The flavors of the festival

Alongside the sfrionzola and the local sausage, the stalls set up among the houses of the village offer a complete journey through Ottati's cuisine:

• cavati pasta with pork rind sauce, handmade according to the village recipe;
• ricotta and caciocavallo cheese from Alburni farms, also available grilled;
• cured meats and traditional peasant-style preserves in oil and vinegar;
• typical desserts of the cold season;
• local wine served at the tasting stands.

The historic center as a stage

The festival does not take place in a square, but inside the village: you walk through alleys, arches, and stairways, passing by the murals that decorate the facades, the churches, and the Dominican Convent, a 15th-century building that now also houses the municipal offices. This is the essence of the event: eating and drinking while moving from one station to another, with the village illuminated and the mountains in the background. The organizers usually set up covered tasting areas so that December's bad weather does not stop the party, and a camper parking area in the town center.

Folk music and village atmosphere

Accompanying the tastings is folk music, with groups playing in the streets and drawing visitors into traditional Campanian dances. The atmosphere is that of a genuine village festival: shared tables, Pro Loco volunteers at the stoves, and families and groups arriving from all over the province of Salerno and the Vallo di Diano. On Sunday, the festival is also open for lunch, the busiest time of the weekend.

Who organizes it and with what support

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco of Ottati in collaboration with the Municipality of Ottati and local associations, which over the years have included the Polisportiva, the San Biagio Parish, the Women's Council, the social cooperative L'Impronta, and Alburni Outdoor. The event has obtained the patronage of the Campania Region, the Province of Salerno, and the Alburni Mountain Community. The administration's stated goal is to involve young people and the entire Ottati community to help the territory grow, enhancing forms of experiential tourism.

When to go and what to see nearby

The festival is traditionally held on the first weekend of December, over two days. It is an excellent opportunity to discover a side of the Alburni mountains that is less traveled than the Cilento coast: from Ottati, you can easily reach the Castelcivita Caves, the Cervati plateau, and the villages of Sant'Angelo a Fasanella and Corleto Monforte. Those arriving from outside the region can combine the visit to the festival with a day on the Park's trails, when the forest is bare and the view from the ridges opens up over the Sele plain.