Starze in...Festa - Strozzaprete Festival (Maria SS. Addolorata celebrations)

Starze in...Festa: The heart of September in Summonte

Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the hamlet of Starze in Summonte—a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania—comes alive for "Starze in...Festa." These solemn celebrations in honor of Maria SS. Addolorata are organized by the Maria SS. Addolorata Festival Committee with the patronage of the Municipality of Summonte. It is the most heartfelt event of the year for the entire community, drawing visitors from across the Irpinia region.

The religious program: Novena and procession

The devotional aspect kicks off the event with the solemn opening of the novena in honor of the Madonna, followed by days of daily Holy Mass celebrations. The highlight is the solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Church of Starze, followed by a procession that carries the sacred image of the Addolorata through the streets of the hamlet, accompanied by a marching band. It is a ritual that repeats gestures passed down through generations, giving the festival its most authentic spirit.

The Strozzaprete Festival

Alongside the religious dimension, the secular side revolves around the famous Strozzaprete Festival, hosted in Piazza Don Carmine Dello Russo. Strozzaprete is a handmade fresh pasta with an irregular shape, an authentic symbol of Irpinian gastronomy born from the peasant cuisine of these mountains. During the festival, it is served in various versions, seasoned with typical local ingredients.

• Food stalls featuring strozzaprete in various preparations
• Typical dishes and products of the Irpinian tradition
• Open-air dining in the heart of the hamlet
• Free admission to the festival area

Music, entertainment, and fireworks

Every evening features a musical performance: over the years, the Starze stage has hosted folk groups, cover bands, DJ sets, and comedy shows. Recent editions have featured Pratola Folk, Vinil Giampy, and the "Remember 90" show in 2025, the Molotov d'Irpinia and Bottari Tharumbò in 2024, and the Malamente band along with comedian Luca Sepe in 2023. As tradition dictates, the event concludes with fireworks that illuminate the valley.

A portrait of an Irpinian festival

Starze in...Festa is the perfect portrait of an Irpinian village festival: no spectacle for the sake of it, but a tight bond between devotion, food, and social life. Visitors will find a village on the slopes of the Partenio mountains, just a few kilometers from Avellino, where families still prepare pasta by hand and the squares remain lively until late at night. The mayor of Summonte, Ivo Capone—a resident of Starze himself—has often emphasized how the event showcases the region's culinary excellence.

When to go

The festival traditionally falls on the first weekend of September, with three evenings of the food festival and the religious climax on Sunday. It is the ideal time to combine a visit to the village of Summonte with a walk in the woods of the Partenio massif, when the summer heat has subsided but the outdoor evenings remain pleasant.