U Strittul ru Zafaran

The crusco pepper festival in Senise

Among the most beloved sagre in Basilicata, U Strittul ru Zafaran is the summer event that Senise, in the Province of Potenza, dedicates to its flagship product: the Senise IGP Pepper, the famous "crusco". The name, in local dialect, means "the pepper alley": a tribute to the alleys of the historic centre 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 centre for three consecutive evenings in mid-August. The route winds through squares and alleys with food stalls, tastings of dishes and cocktails made with crusco pepper, cooking shows, photographic and ethnographic exhibitions, craft workshops, and plenty of live music, from folk dances to the late-night DJ sets of the "Crusk Night".

The "'nserta" competition

The heart and soul of the festival is the historic Gara dell'Inserta (competition for the best string of peppers), an event that rewards those who create the most beautiful strings of dried peppers, an ancient practice of Senise's peasant culture. Alongside it, the Popular Games between the town's districts recall the community 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 (Consortium for the Protection of Senise IGP Pepper), with the support of the Basilicata Region and the Municipality, the sagra has become a tourist driver: the 2025 edition attracted over five thousand visitors, with attendees from Turin, Milan, Rome, Naples, and abroad, and accommodation facilities fully booked. It is an event that tells the story of Senise and its crusco pepper as an identity symbol of Lucania in the world.