Venticano Trade Fair

A tradition rooted in the 15th century

The Venticano Trade Fair, located in the heart of Irpinia, is much more than an exhibition: it is the modern continuation of an ancient mercantile vocation. As early as the 15th century, the territory hosted three annual fairs linked to religious festivals, where farmers, breeders, and artisans from the Calore Valley gathered to trade livestock, tools, and produce. From that centuries-old custom, the contemporary Trade Fair was born in 1978, initiated by a group of young people from Venticano and grown into the longest-running trade event in the inland areas of Southern Italy.

The Campanarello exhibition center

The fair takes place at the Venticano exhibition center, in the Campanarello district, along the route connecting Irpinia to Sannio and Puglia. The exhibition space covers nearly 20,000 square meters, including indoor pavilions and outdoor areas, with parking, dining options, and public facilities. Its location, just minutes from the highway exit, has made Venticano a natural meeting point over the years for the provinces of Avellino, Benevento, and Salerno, as well as markets in Central and Southern Italy.

Sectors and pavilions

The format follows the classic generalist trade fair model, with a strong focus on the agri-food sector. Visitors will find stands organized by thematic areas:

• Agriculture and agricultural mechanization: machinery, equipment, and services for the primary sector;
• Food and wine and local products: Irpinian wines, extra virgin olive oils, cheeses, cured meats, preserves, and craft beers;
• Craftsmanship and artistic trades: traditional techniques, ceramics, woodwork, and textiles;
• Construction, home, and decor: materials, systems, and living solutions;
• Automotive, services, and new technologies, with growing attention to digital innovation;
• Animals, leisure, tourism, culture, and Armed Forces, with areas designed for families.

The taste of Irpinia on display

The food pavilion is one of the most popular: here, visitors can taste and purchase the excellence of inland Campania, from great Irpinian denomination wines to mountain cheeses, cured meats, and baked goods. For many small farms in the municipality of Venticano and surrounding towns, the Trade Fair represents the annual opportunity to reach buyers and visitors arriving from outside the region: in recent years, a significant portion of exhibitors has come from Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Lazio, and Molise, confirming the fair's role as the main agri-food event in the inland areas of the South.

Conferences, training, and business culture

Alongside the stands, the calendar features technical conferences and meetings open to professionals and citizens every year: workplace and road safety, olive growing and the oil supply chain, environment, tourism, and industry trends. The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Venticanese with the support of local and regional institutions, and over time it has consolidated a function that goes beyond sales: creating relationships, attracting investment, and giving visibility to a territory that combats depopulation through entrepreneurship and the quality of its products.

A popular event for all ages

The Trade Fair retains a deeply popular soul. During the four days of the event, shows, children's entertainment, performances, and leisure moments transform the visit into a family outing. The inauguration, with the laying of a laurel wreath at the War Memorial and the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the presence of mayors from Irpinia and Sannio, has become a collective ritual that marks the spring in Venticano.

Venticano and the Calore Valley

A small municipality in the province of Avellino, Venticano is located in one of the most fertile areas of inland Campania, among vineyards, olive groves, and historic villages. Those visiting the fair can easily extend their trip to the municipalities of Taurasi and Greco di Tufo, the Goleto Abbey, or the historic center of Avellino. It is the best way to understand why this exhibition, born as a farmers' market, has become a symbol of identity for the entire Irpinia region.