Tripe, Lagane and Chickpeas, and Prosciutto Festival

An August festival in the heart of the Agro Nocerino Sarnese

The Tripe, Lagane and Chickpeas, and Prosciutto Festival is the summer highlight of the Fimiani hamlet, in the municipality of Castel San Giorgio, in the province of Salerno, Campania. For over twenty years, during the first ten days of August, this small village bordering Roccapiemonte transforms into a large open-air kitchen. The 24th edition was held in 2025, from August 7th to 10th: a milestone that speaks volumes about the continuity of a celebration that began as a neighborhood initiative and has become one of the most anticipated gastronomic events in the Agro Nocerino Sarnese.

The event is organized by the Associazione Circolo San Giuseppe, a local volunteer group that sets up the stalls, kitchen, and music areas around the Centro San Giuseppe. This is not a tourist-trap event; it is a genuine village feast run by residents, opening its doors to visitors from neighboring towns and, increasingly, from Salerno and Naples.

Tripe, the festival's signature dish

The dish that gives the festival its name is tripe, prepared according to local tradition in several variations: with tomato sauce, with beans, with mushrooms, and in a cold salad version. It is "cucina povera" in the noblest sense of the term—a tradition in the Campanian hinterland that elevates humble cuts of meat through long cooking times, tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and patience. For those who have never tried tripe, this is the perfect setting: generous portions, affordable prices, and a kitchen that has maintained the same high standards for over two decades.

Lagane and chickpeas, prosciutto, and grilled provola

Alongside the tripe, the menu features the other two protagonists mentioned in the festival's name:

• Lagane and chickpeas tossed with prosciutto: the hand-rolled fresh pasta typical of Southern Italy, served in the most classic style of the Campanian peasant tradition.
• Prosciutto in all its forms: on a platter, with melon, in a sandwich, or paired with grilled provola and scamorza cheese, one of the most requested combinations by visitors.
• Caponata with tomato and prosciutto, seasonal side dishes, desserts, drinks, and local wine to round off the meal.

The service operates with food stalls and outdoor seating: you order at the register, pick up your food, and sit wherever you find a spot, often next to people you don't know. It is all part of the experience.

Live music and dancing

Every evening is accompanied by live music and dancing: past editions have featured everything from ballroom dancing to Latin American rhythms, with bands from the Salerno province playing until late. The crowd is diverse, ranging from families with children to groups of friends, and the dance floor usually fills up right after dinner.

A community celebration

The proceeds and the hard work behind the festival remain within the community: members of the Circolo San Giuseppe do the cooking, serving, and setup. For Fimiani, which has only a few hundred residents, these four nights in August are a chance to reconnect with those who have moved away and to come together. This sense of community, even more than the menu, explains why the event has thrived for so many years.

The 2026 edition

As of the update of this page, the Associazione Circolo San Giuseppe has not yet released the official calendar for the 2026 edition. The festival has historically taken place during the first ten days of August over four consecutive nights, but until the organizers make an announcement, the dates remain to be confirmed: it is best to follow the association's Facebook page or call before traveling.

Around Castel San Giorgio

Castel San Giorgio is conveniently located between Naples and Salerno, at the foot of the mountains separating the Agro Nocerino Sarnese from the Irno Valley. Visitors from outside the region can combine the festival evening with a day trip to Pompeii, Nocera Inferiore, or the Amalfi Coast, all reachable in less than an hour by car. The Campania of small towns and summer festivals is a world of its own: it is worth stopping by just to experience how people truly eat in these parts.