Termopolio

An open-air thermopolium in the heart of Atripalda

For three evenings in June, the historic center of Atripalda, in the province of Avellino, undergoes a transformation: alleys, small squares, and plazas become one large open-air dining area where you can eat on the go, sip Irpinian wine, and enjoy live music until late at night. This is the concept behind Termopolio, the urban festival promoted by the municipal administration and organized by the TODOINFIESTA.AV 2017 association with the collaboration and support of Caos APS, reaching its fourth edition in 2026.

It is not a traditional food festival, nor a simple street food gathering: the project was born from the idea of reconnecting the community to its history through the daily gestures of eating and sharing, restoring the town's ancient core to its role as a meeting place, just as it was centuries ago.

The name: the thermopolia of ancient Abellinum

The event's title draws inspiration from thermopolia, the ready-to-eat food shops of the Roman era. These also existed in Abellinum, the ancient city that stood on the territory of modern-day Atripalda, founded by the Irpini and later expanded during the Sullan age under Lucius Cornelius Sulla. They were street-facing establishments with masonry counters and embedded terracotta jars, where travelers along the Appian Way found ready-to-eat food, wine, and human warmth. Termopolio revives that function and translates it into a contemporary key, bringing street food back to where it originated.

Sixteen stalls and Irpinian cuisine

The gastronomic heart of the event is entrusted to sixteen refreshment points distributed along the pedestrian route, offering a mix of traditional cuisine and more creative interpretations. Stalls typically feature:

• Traditional pasta dishes, starting with ziti alla genovese
• 'Wheel-of-a-cart' style pizza and Neapolitan baked goods
• Cuoppo (paper cones) of land and sea delicacies, meatballs, and arrosticini
• Smash burgers and barbecue
• Desserts, zeppole, and artisanal gelato

The vendors involved in the 2026 edition include CaciocaWalter, La Sirena Street Food, Smashbù, Hosteria Giù da Thomas, Lievitum Trattoria Napoletana, Zeppoleria da Geppino, Abellinum Eventi e Terre d'Aione, Macelleria Il Capriccio, Maistà Antica Pizzeria, Amilù, Primm & Aropp Street Food, Tappo Brillo, Mangiarte, Flamaca, Urciuolo Gelateria, and Concè.

Irpinian wine and craft beer

Alongside food, wine has its own dedicated space: the Wine Point offers tastings of Irpinian labels, a heritage that in this province boasts three DOCG denominations — Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino, and Greco di Tufo — plus one DOC. Those who prefer beer will find stalls from local craft breweries, Birrificio23 and Birrificio 83043, together with Bar Millennium, Bar Termopolio, and Enoteca Popolare.

The Termopolio Music Village

The musical program is organized across two hubs that remain active throughout all three evenings. Piazza Garibaldi hosts live concerts and vinyl sets, with bands ranging from rock to folk dance music and ska. The Piazzetta degli Artisti, renamed Club Culture Plaza, hosts the more club-oriented side of the event, with resident DJs from Nada Mas and guest selectors alternating at the console. A dedicated lighting project accompanies the route, creating a nocturnal scenography on the facades of the ancient center.

A rapidly growing event

The first edition dates back to 2023, when the event was born as a food and wine initiative linked to the passage of the Giro d'Italia; by the following year, Termopolio became an independent late-June event, consolidating in 2025 with its third edition and in 2026 with its fourth. The formula remains unchanged: free entry, a pedestrianized historic center, and a program that weaves together gastronomy, music, and street art.

Atripalda, gateway to the Sabato Valley

Atripalda stands along the Sabato River, a few kilometers from Avellino, and is one of the most history-rich centers in Irpinia: here you can find the archaeological area of ancient Abellinum, with its baths, domus, and Roman city walls. Inland Campania, less traveled than the coast, offers the perfect opportunity to be discovered during these days: a village festival in format, but with a vision of city and community that goes far beyond a simple party.