Succhivo Spring Festival

A festival that opens the village doors

The Spring Festival is an annual event held every April in Succhivo, a small hamlet in the municipality of Serrara Fontana on the island of Ischia, in the province of Naples (Campania). For one day, the residents open their homes, courtyards, gardens, and cellars, transforming the village alleys into a journey of taste and conviviality. It is more than just a gastronomic event; it is a way to showcase a corner of the island that has long remained in the shadow of nearby Sant'Angelo.

A roving lunch through gardens, cellars, and citrus groves

The heart of the event is the roving lunch. Participants set off in small groups, accompanied by local guides, walking through the village and stopping at various points: private homes, gardens, citrus groves, cellars, and viewpoints opened exceptionally for the occasion. At each stop, you can taste a traditional island dish paired with local wine, while the guides share stories of families, farming, and ancient crafts.

Departures are staggered to avoid crowding the narrow alleys: in the most recent edition, groups set off every thirty minutes between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. It is a slow-paced walk, perfect for those who want to enjoy the mild spring air, the scent of citrus, and the terraces overlooking the sea of Sant'Angelo.

Succhivo, between Sant'Angelo and Mount Epomeo

Succhivo developed along the ancient mule track that connected the fishing village of Sant'Angelo to the countryside of Serrara Fontana. Until the 1950s, fishermen would climb up here to trade their catch for seasonal fruit and vegetables. The village still retains this rural character, defined by cellars, pergolas, and citrus gardens, with the church of Santa Maria di Montevergine as its spiritual center. This landscape, suspended between the sea and the slopes of Mount Epomeo, provides the perfect backdrop for the festival.

Who organizes it

The event is managed by the Gertrud Streicher Association, named after a German woman who deeply loved this corner of Ischia, with the support of the Municipality of Serrara Fontana. Originally founded as a volunteer group dedicated to the care and cleaning of the area, the association promoted the first edition in 2015 under the title Colors and Flavors of Succhivo. Since then, it has marked the village's calendar with other events, from Carnival to the Feast of Saint John and Christmas in the Village.

A low-impact event

In recent years, the festival has taken on an environmental focus: the 2026 edition was announced as a Plastic-Free EcoEvent, aiming to minimize single-use plastics along the route, in line with the cleanup and awareness days organized on the island in collaboration with Plastic Free.

Why it's worth the trip

• A roving lunch in private locations that remain closed for the rest of the year.
• Homemade dishes and local wine served by the village residents themselves.
• Panoramic views of the Sant'Angelo promontory and the southern coast of Ischia.
• A chance to visit Ischia in the low season, when the island is quieter and the countryside is in bloom.
• A community-driven festival, self-funded and without stages: the village itself is the star.