Spaghetti Western Pietrastornina

When Irpinia becomes the Far West

Spaghetti Western Pietrastornina is an event that, every September, turns Pietrastornina—a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania—into an Old West village. For a few days, the streets of the center fill with cowboys, gunslingers, saloon girls, and costumed performers: a mine, a bank, a saloon, and an Indian camp take shape, while roving shows, duels, dances, and live music recreate an imagery made famous worldwide by Italian cinema.

The concept is as simple as it is effective: pay homage to the Spaghetti Western, the genre that brought the American desert into European cinema during the sixties and seventies, but do so in a village in the Campanian Apennines dominated by its rocky spire. The result is not just a costume party, but an immersive set where the village itself becomes the stage: visitors can wander through the settings, take photos in themed areas, and watch performances without a clear boundary between stage and audience.

The Film Festival and the «Guglia d'Oro»

The cultural heart of the event is the Film Festival dedicated to western short films. The competing shorts—both Italian and international—are screened and discussed with the public on the final day; at the end, the winner of the «Guglia d'Oro» is announced, a handcrafted award made in Pietrastornina that replicates the guglia (spire), the isolated, pointed rock formation that characterizes the village and has always been its symbol.

The festival has grown rapidly: born as a small showcase for emerging directors, it has already hosted works from Italy, the United States, and Spain. The 2025 edition featured Blood Money by American director William Cook, Gallows Ridge by Italian director Claudio Cirri, and The Bounty Hunter by Spanish director Enrique Novials in competition, while I vigliacchi di Big Creek by Gaetano Cucciardi was presented as an out-of-competition premiere. The jury was chaired by film editor Eugenio Alabiso, a long-time collaborator of Sergio Leone.

Guests and Awards

One of the most recognizable features of the event is its ability to bring authentic protagonists of the genre to Irpinia. Past guests include director Enzo G. Castellari, screenwriter and author Marco Tullio Barboni (son of director E. B. Clucher), and producer Giuseppe Pedersoli (son of Bud Spencer). The latter two were awarded the «Guglia d'argento» (Silver Spire) by Mayor Amato Rizzo and association president Fulvio Urciuolo. The 2025 inauguration featured trumpeter Nello Salza, for years the solo voice of Ennio Morricone's soundtracks, who alternated live performances with studio anecdotes.

Music, Dance, and Themed Cuisine

Alongside the screenings, there is a popular program of country music, group dances, staged shootouts, and family entertainment, with shows moving from one square to another. Gastronomy is also a highlight: stands offer a western-themed menu, designed to accompany the evenings in the village and appreciated by both visitors and locals, who participate en masse in the preparations.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Associazione Spaghetti Western Pietrastornina, chaired by Fulvio Urciuolo, with the support of the Municipality of Pietrastornina and the collaboration of groups like «Camposecco Far West». Over the years, broader cultural partnerships have also emerged, from the Teatro Ricciardi in Capua to international film festivals, signaling a project that aims to grow without losing its village charm.

Why it's worth the trip

In a region like Campania, rich in food festivals and patron saint celebrations, Spaghetti Western Pietrastornina occupies a unique space: it is simultaneously a themed re-enactment, a film festival, and a community celebration. For those visiting Irpinia in September, it is also an opportunity to discover an Apennine village off the beaten path, a short distance from Avellino, when evenings turn cooler and the local events calendar is still full.