U Strittul ru Zafaran

The crusco pepper festival in Senise

Among the most beloved festivals in Basilicata, U Strittul ru Zafaran is the summer event that Senise, in the Province of Potenza, dedicates to its symbol product: the Senise IGP Pepper, the famous "crusco". The name, in the local dialect, means "the alley of the pepper": a tribute to the alleys of the historic center where, traditionally, peppers were hung to dry in long red strings, the characteristic "'nserte".

Three days of taste and tradition

The event, now in its 23rd edition in 2025, enlivens the town center for three consecutive evenings in mid-August. The route winds through squares and alleys with food stalls, tastings of dishes and cocktails based on crusco pepper, cooking shows, photographic and ethnographic exhibitions, craft workshops, and lots of live music, from folk dances to the "Crusk Night" night-time DJ sets.

The "'nserta" competition

The historical heart of the festival is the traditional Gara dell'Inserta (Stringing Competition), a contest that awards those who create the most beautiful strings of dried peppers, an ancient gesture of Senise's peasant culture. Alongside it, the Popular Games between the town's districts recall the communal and convivial dimension of the event.

A territory promotion event

Organized by the ASSA association together with the Consorzio di Tutela del Peperone di Senise IGP (Senise IGP Pepper Protection Consortium), with the support of the Basilicata Region and the Municipality, the festival has become a tourist driver: the 2025 edition exceeded five thousand visitors, with attendees from Turin, Milan, Rome, Naples, and abroad, and accommodation facilities fully booked. An event that showcases Senise and its crusco pepper as an identity symbol of Lucania in the world.