The Identity of a Territory Told by the Pro Loco

A festival that tells the story of the Terra di Lavoro

The Identity of a Territory Told by the Pro Loco is a cultural and gastronomic event created by the Pro Loco associations of the Caserta province to collectively give voice to the historical, artistic, culinary, and popular heritage of the Terra di Lavoro. The subtitle chosen by the organizers — 'Colors, Flavors, Sounds, and Traditions' — perfectly captures the spirit of the event: not just a simple food festival, but a choral narrative where each town shares its own memories, cuisine, and folk groups.

Villa Porfidia, the setting for the event

The venue is Villa Porfidia, located at Piazza della Repubblica 1 in the town of Recale, just a few kilometers from Caserta and its Royal Palace. The historic residence, with its grand halls and especially its gardens, is perfectly suited for a format that balances indoor moments with outdoor activities: during the festival, guided tours of the villa's green spaces are available, while courtyards and avenues host association stands and tasting trails.

Eight Pro Loco united under the 'Felix' banner

The organizational heart is the Pro Loco Unite Felix network, which brings together eight associations from the Caserta area: Pro Loco Nuova Recale, Pro Loco Carinaro 'Sant'Eufemia', Pro Loco San Marcellino, Pro Loco 'Casaluci' of Casaluce, Pro Loco of Portico di Caserta, Pro Loco 'Vivere a Caturano' of Macerata Campania, Pro Loco Marcianise, and Pro Loco San Tammaro, with the latter serving as the project lead. It is a rare and compelling model: instead of multiplying small, competing local festivals, these associations pool resources, volunteers, and expertise for a single provincial-level event, supported by the Campania Region and the UNPLI.

Flavors, sounds, and traditions

The program varies from year to year, but some key elements are always present:

• Food and wine trails featuring typical products from the participating towns, from pasta to cheeses, traditional desserts to local wines;
• Show cooking and guided tastings dedicated to Caserta's cuisine;
• Folk performances, featuring the famous Bottari — percussionists who play barrels, vats, and scythes, an intangible heritage of the Macerata Campania and Portico di Caserta area;
• Popular theater and live music in the Neapolitan language;
• Thematic workshops, exhibitions of agricultural tools, and local crafts;
• Children's entertainment with magic, soap bubbles, and juggling.

Schools take center stage

A distinctive feature of the event is the direct involvement of local schools: the 'Telling the Territory' competition invites students to produce projects about their own town, which are then awarded during the first day, following guided tours of the villa. Alongside the competition, a conference is usually held, bringing together administrators, UNPLI leaders, and tourism professionals to discuss the synergy between institutions and associations in protecting local identity.

When and why to go

The project's first public appearance was held at Villa Porfidia on December 30, 2024; the full three-day festival then took place from March 28 to 30, 2025, in Recale. For those visiting Campania off the beaten path, it is a concrete opportunity to understand how Caserta's popular tradition lives today: not reconstructed for tourists, but performed by the communities themselves, just minutes from the Royal Palace of Caserta and the village of Casertavecchia.