TortorellArt
Tradition, Passion, Future: artisan expertise in the village of Tortorella
About TortorellArt
The village becomes an open-air workshop
TortorellArt is a festival dedicated to artistic craftsmanship and local excellence, born in the Municipality of Tortorella, a small town of just over four hundred inhabitants perched at an altitude of 562 meters in the inland Cilento, in the province of Salerno, Campania. The event is promoted by the municipal administration in collaboration with the Faro Association and was created with a clear goal: to enhance one of the most precious heritages of inland areas, the savoir-faire.
The heart of the event is Piazza Scipione Rovito, the town hall square, which for three days transforms into a widespread laboratory of creativity, craftsmanship, culture, and traditions. Around the square, a path winds through workshops, exhibitions, meetings, and labs, involving master artisans, creatives, local businesses, and visitors.
Workshops on Display: the craft as it is born
The main section is called Workshops on Display and is dedicated to artistic craft exhibitions with live demonstrations. These are not simple sales stalls: artisans work in front of the public, explaining their techniques, materials, and production times. The represented sectors cover the entire spectrum of traditional trades in the area:
- Wrought iron and metalworking, one of the village's most deep-rooted traditions;
- Wood and artistic carpentry;
- Embroidery and textiles, using techniques passed down from generation to generation;
- Food and wine, featuring wine and typical products from the Cilento hills;
- Contemporary art, innovation, and technological production, from 3D printing to digital communication.
Tradition, Passion, Future: the talks
The program is built around three keywords — Tradition, Passion, Future — and is structured into a series of thematic talks that bring together artisans, administrators, businesses, and external professionals every afternoon. Topics include smart villages and communication, materials and mastery, and how ancient crafts can meet digital technologies without losing their soul. Participating entities include Campania da Vivere, MastroDomenico Sandali, Graffiti for smart city, and 3DItaly.
"Craftsmanship represents one of the most authentic expressions of our territorial identity," emphasized Mayor Nicola Tancredi, who defined TortorellArt not only as a showcase for creativity and artisan production but also as "an important moment of synthesis and dialogue."
Cooking shows and flavors of inland Cilento
Gastronomy plays a leading role. Every evening, the square hosts cooking shows dedicated to traditional dishes, curated by local restaurants, with tastings that tell the story of inland Cilento cuisine: zero-mile products, family recipes, and typical desserts. A way to show that cooking is also a form of craftsmanship.
Music in the square
The days conclude with musical entertainment: live concerts and vinyl sets liven up Piazza Scipione Rovito until late at night, in a village festival atmosphere that involves residents, returning emigrants, and visitors arriving from the Gulf of Policastro and Vallo di Diano towns.
A project that goes beyond the three days
TortorellArt is not an isolated event: it is part of a broader strategy by the Municipality to revitalize the historic center. The event led to the launch of an e-commerce platform dedicated to the village's artisan and agri-food products, designed to give local businesses a permanent digital showcase. Furthermore, "Made in Tortorella: faces, knowledge, and products of the Village" continues, the social media column through which the administration tells the story of each of the town's commercial and artisan activities.
Tortorella, a medieval village in Cilento
The setting is worth the trip: Tortorella is a medieval village nestled on a rocky spur, with castle ruins, the mother church, and a maze of stone alleys overlooking the mountains of southern Cilento. The municipal territory extends a short distance from the Gulf of Policastro and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. Visiting TortorellArt means discovering, along with the trades, a piece of rural Campania still little touched by mass tourism.
TortorellArt — edition 2026
The debut of TortorellArt
The inaugural edition of TortorellArt took place from June 19 to 21, 2026 in the historic center of Tortorella, in the province of Salerno. For three days, Piazza Scipione Rovito transformed into a widespread laboratory of creativity, craftsmanship, culture, and traditions, with master artisans from Tortorella and neighboring towns.
The common thread was summarized in three words: Tradition, Passion, Future. Around this theme, afternoon talks, workshop demonstrations, evening cooking shows, and musical appointments took place. Iron, wood, embroidery, wine, and gastronomic products engaged with contemporary art, digital communication, and 3D printing.
The event concluded with a round table and the announcement of an e-commerce platform for local products, presented in view of the San Basilio Fair on July 31 and August 1. "TortorellArt is a showcase of creativity and artisan production, but also an important moment of synthesis and dialogue," commented Mayor Nicola Tancredi, highlighting how the event sparked "ideas, relationships, and perspectives" for future initiatives.
Programme TortorellArt 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Talk "Origins and Contemporaneity": smart village, communication, and enhancement of artisan traditions through innovation.
- 8:30 PM — Cooking show dedicated to traditional dishes, by Oasi Piscina of Tortorella and L'Angolo delle Dolcezze.
- 9:30 PM — Musical entertainment with Calimma.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Talk "Strong Trades. Material, fire, and master artisans": working with natural materials, weaving and embroidery, wine culture and gastronomic production, contemporary art, and digital innovation.
- 8:30 PM — Cooking show by La Posada of Tortorella and L'Angolo delle Dolcezze.
- 9:30 PM — Vinyl set with Bassolino and Geo.
Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Concluding round table between local artisans, local businesses, and external professionals on the future of craftsmanship and innovation.
- Presentation of the new e-commerce platform for the village's local products.
Throughout the event
- Workshops on Display: artistic craft exhibitions and live demonstrations in Piazza Scipione Rovito, with direct dialogue between master artisans and visitors.
- Presence of guest entities Campania da Vivere, MastroDomenico Sandali, Graffiti for smart city, and 3DItaly.
Highlights TortorellArt 2026
- First absolute edition of the event, from June 19 to 21, 2026.
- "Workshops on Display": live demonstrations of wrought iron, wood, embroidery, and typical products.
- Thematic talks on tradition, materials, and digital innovation in inland areas.
- Evening cooking shows with dishes from the inland Cilento cuisine.
- Live music with Calimma and vinyl sets by Bassolino and Geo.
- Presentation of the e-commerce platform dedicated to the village's artisans and producers.
- Event included in the "Made in Tortorella: faces, knowledge, and products of the Village" project.
- Initiative supported with ministerial funds as part of NextGenerationEU.
Prices TortorellArt 2026
Practical information — TortorellArt
Where it takes place
The event is held in the historic center of Tortorella (SA), based in Piazza Scipione Rovito, the town hall square (ZIP code 84030).
How to get there
- By car: take the Padula-Buonabitacolo exit on the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway, then follow provincial roads towards Casaletto Spartano and Tortorella; alternatively, drive up from the Gulf of Policastro coast from Sapri or Policastro Bussentino (about 20-25 km of mountain road).
- By train: Sapri station on the Tyrrhenian line, then local bus or taxi.
- By plane: Naples-Capodichino airport, about 200 km away.
Useful tips
- The village is made of stone and is on a slope: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- It is located at an altitude of 562 meters; evenings can be cool even in June: bring a sweatshirt.
- Parking spaces in the historic center are limited; it is best to leave your car in the parking lots at the entrance to the village and continue on foot.
- For accommodation, you can rely on facilities in Tortorella and neighboring towns (Casaletto Spartano, Torre Orsaia, Sapri, and the Gulf of Policastro coast).
Information
Municipality of Tortorella, Piazza Scipione Rovito 1 — phone +39 0973 374366. Information and updates are also available via email at [email protected] and on the Borgo di Tortorella Facebook page.
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Where does it take place — TortorellArt
Piazza Scipione Rovito
Piazza Scipione Rovito, 84030 Tortorella