The Legend of Saccha

The legend that gave Sacco its name

In the heart of the Cilento hinterland, at an altitude of over 600 meters, the municipality of Sacco (Province of Salerno, Campania) preserves a story handed down for centuries, which even appeared in 18th-century geographical dictionaries. According to tradition, Saccia — spelled Saccha in the local dialect — was the bride of Zottone, the first Lombard Duke of Benevento, and was confined to the castle built on the hill not far from the current town. When the fortress was abandoned, the survivors moved down to the valley and named the new settlement after that woman: from there, the legend says, the name Sacco derives. Abbot Francesco Sacco, in his Historical and Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Naples of 1796, already reported the story of «Saccia, wife of one of the Dukes of Benevento» confined to the castle. The historical re-enactment The Legend of Saccha was created precisely to restore this foundational tale to the town.

The castle of Sacco Vecchia, heart of the story

The symbolic site of the event is the castle of Sacco Vecchia, a Lombard fortification built around 600 AD on a rocky spur just over a kilometer north-east of the town center. The official municipal records describe a complex of about 3,000 square meters, with a vast courtyard accessed through a gate with a drawbridge, a central square-plan tower, large halls, at least eight rooms facing south, vaulted underground chambers, a cistern for collecting rainwater, and crenellated walls in the Lombard style. The fortress controlled a strategic passage between the Calore valley and the Vallo di Diano through the Sella del Corticato. Today, the ruins can only be reached on foot along a hiking trail that requires suitable footwear; next to the ruins stands the church of San Nicola di Mira, of Norman origin.

When it takes place

The event appears in the official list of events of the Municipality of Sacco published by the Province of Salerno, which classifies it as a historical re-enactment and indicates its recurring period in the first days of August (from the 1st to the 7th) and in a second window in October. August is indeed the month when the village truly comes alive: on July 31st, the fair is held, and in the first three days of the month, the feast of the Madonna degli Angeli is celebrated, linked to the end of the plague of 1656 and which has become the appointment that for generations has called back to Sacco emigrants and their descendants from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and various European countries. The re-enactment is part of this calendar of homecomings and festivities, when the streets of the historic center become crowded again.

A mountain village within the Park

Sacco is one of the smallest and highest municipalities in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: its territory rises from 600 to 1,730 meters and includes protected areas such as Monte Motola and the upper Calore Lucano river valley. In the village, the parish church of San Silvestro preserves a late 18th-century facade, a remarkable 17th-century wooden choir, and a limestone cross that commemorates the victims of the plague. It is a context that makes the re-enactment more than just a show: the legend of Saccha is read in the name of the town, in the hill of the ruins, and in the memory of the families.

What to expect

This is a community re-enactment, organized by the Pro Loco of Sacco with the participation of the inhabitants: not a large event with ticket offices, but a costumed tale that lives through the places where it takes place, the historic center, and the allure of the castle. For the public, it is also an opportunity to discover a village that in summer is a natural stop for hikes towards Monte Motola and the Corticato, and to taste the Cilento mountain cuisine in the few local businesses.

Information and contacts

The detailed program is not released well in advance: it is best to contact the Pro Loco directly at the address [email protected] or the Municipality of Sacco ([email protected], phone +39 0974 276900) to check dates, times, and appointments for the current edition.