Tra i Vicoli di Cautano

A village of Mount Taburno turned into a stage

Tra i Vicoli di Cautano is the signature summer event of the Municipality of Cautano, a small town of just under two thousand inhabitants in the province of Benevento, in the heart of the Sannio region and inland Campania. The town stretches across the Vitulanese Valley, nestled between the Taburno and Camposauro massifs. Every year in mid-August, it entrusts its most ancient streets to an evening itinerary that blends food, craftsmanship, art, and entertainment. There is no single stage; the alleys, small squares, arches, and courtyards of the historic center become the setting, with the participation of volunteers from the Pro Loco Cepino-Prata Cautano APS and residents from the various hamlets, from Cepino to Prata, from Cacciano to Loreto.

The food and wine trail

The heart of the event is the 'tasting walk': along the route, visitors find tasting points dedicated to the rustic cuisine of Mount Taburno, prepared according to traditional home recipes. In past editions, visitors have enjoyed dishes such as:

• cecatielli and cavatelli pasta served with traditional sauces;
• stuffed peppers and tripe, two classics of August evenings;
• minestra maritata, a vegetable and meat soup that is one of the most iconic dishes of the Sannio region;
• montanare and pizzilli (fried dough) prepared on the spot;
• cured meats, cheeses, honey, and local desserts, accompanied by wines from local wineries.

The format is designed for tasting: you walk, you stop, you move on, allowing you to explore the entire village in one evening without any rush.

Stone, workshops, and exhibitions

Cautano is historically a town of stonemasons and marble workers: the stone quarried on Mount Taburno is noted in local chronicles as a material used in prestigious construction sites, from the Royal Palace of Caserta to the Sanctuary of Pompeii. The event dedicates a significant part of the program to this vocation, featuring live demonstrations of stone carving, exhibitions set up in the village spaces and the Museo Petra of the Taburno-Camposauro Park, and temporary workshops run by local artisans and artists. In previous editions, sculptors, basket makers, painters, goldsmiths, and 'madonnari' (street artists) have worked before the public, reinforcing the principle that what you are buying is not just the material, but the time and skill of the person who transforms it.

Music, dance, and street performance

Every evening has its own soundtrack. The town squares, particularly Piazza Vittorio Veneto, have hosted popular Southern Italian music groups, tarantella and pizzica ensembles, swing bands, and singer-songwriter repertoires over the years, while itinerant artists—violinists, dancers, jugglers, and fire performers—roam the route. There are also activities for children, including theater and entertainment, as well as cultural moments—conferences and meetings—that highlight the landscape, traditions, and memory of the community.

A national quality mark

The growth of the event has been recognized at a national level: in March 2026, in the Sala Koch of the Senate of the Republic, the UNPLI awarded the Sagra di Qualità (Quality Festival) mark to the Pro Loco Cepino-Prata Cautano APS, led by president Antonella Zampelli. This certification is awarded to events that guarantee authenticity, historical roots, organizational excellence, and the promotion of typical local products and dishes. Cautano has thus joined the list of certified excellences by Italian Pro Loco associations, along with two other events in the Sannio region.

Why it's worth the trip

Tra i Vicoli di Cautano is not just a festival centered around a single dish, but a portrait of a town: the stone, the vegetable garden, family cooking, folk music, and a historic center that, when illuminated at night, reveals itself to be even more beautiful than expected. It is an ideal stop for those visiting the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park in summer and looking for an authentic village experience, just a few kilometers from Benevento.