Vesuvian Fair (San Gennaro Vesuviano Fair since 1613)

Four centuries of history: the Vesuvian Fair since 1613

The Vesuvian Fair in San Gennaro Vesuviano, located in the Metropolitan City of Naples (Campania), is one of Italy's oldest events. It has been held without interruption since 1613, when Marquis Scipione Pignatelli, Lord of Palma and Lauro, transformed the traditional gathering in front of the church of Saint Januarius into an official fair. The deed of donation allocated twenty moggia of uncultivated land in front of the convent for an annual fair to be held around the feast of Saint Januarius on September 19th.

From its inception, it has been a free fair (fiera franca): no duties have ever been levied on goods, and no admission fee can be charged to visitors. The Franciscan friars promoted it among the populations of the Nolano, Vesuvian, and Sarnese areas, offering hospitality to vendors. By the 17th century, the fair was already cited as a model of organization, covering approximately 80,000 square meters and overseen by a Catapano, the fair master, who held judicial powers.

When and where it takes place

The event falls every year in mid-September, close to the patron saint's feast day. In recent editions, the heart of the event has returned to Piazza Margherita and the town center streets, whereas for about twenty years, the exhibition area was hosted in the spaces of the 'Caravaggio' State Agricultural Institute on Via Poggiomarino. The 412th edition took place from September 17th to 21st, 2025.

Market, crafts, and ancient trades

The fair preserves its dual soul—commercial and popular—featuring market stalls, an agricultural section, local exhibitors, and a path dedicated to artisanal know-how, with live demonstrations that visitors can follow up close.

• Workshops on ancient trades: woodworking, ceramics, wrought iron, cameo engraving, wicker weaving, and lava stone carving
• Creative sewing, macramé lace, and wood carving
• Agricultural section and food and wine salon with local producers
• Exhibition stand of the Campania Region
• Historical photography exhibition dedicated to wine

Food festivals and Vesuvian cuisine

In the evening, the fair turns into a culinary journey. Alongside a dozen Neapolitan street food stations, five traditional food festivals (sagre) light up, dedicated to local flavors—from walnuts and hazelnuts to the great first courses of Neapolitan cuisine. Meanwhile, show cooking events with guest chefs have showcased dishes like 'The Gold of the Gulf' and Mediterranean-inspired sushi. For several editions, a specific focus has been dedicated to oily fish and the Mediterranean Diet, with tastings and meetings on supply chain sustainability.

Shows, music, and the return of horses

Evenings in Piazza Margherita alternate between folk groups, dance schools, and concerts. In 2025, singer-songwriter Gianluca Capozzi, Gabriele Esposito, and the young rapper Le-One performed, preceded by a DJ set from Weisser Quiff. The stage also hosted Ars Nova Danza and Gabry Dance, an inclusive dance school with Paralympic athletes. Among the most applauded novelties is the Equestrian Art Salon, which brought horses back to the fair after years of absence, along with the children's project In the Saddle of History.

Conferences, books, and local memory

During the fair, the Town Hall Council Chamber hosts a series of meetings. In 2025, topics included medicine with the conference 'Hippocrates' Relevance in the Third Millennium,' technology and social media, and agri-food supply chains with Regional Councilor for Agriculture Nicola Caputo, in addition to book presentations linked to local history. The religious dimension remains central, with celebrations in the Franciscan convent church, the investiture of the Catapano, and the procession of Saint Januarius accompanied by a historical pageant through the town streets.

Why it is worth a visit

With over four centuries of history, the Vesuvian Fair is not a staged re-enactment but an uninterrupted tradition. Here, the identity of the Vesuvian and Nolano area, including the inland municipalities and the entire province of Naples, gathers every September in the same ritual of market, devotion, food, and celebration. Admission is free, as dictated by its nature as a 'free fair,' and the atmosphere remains that of a great town festival open to families and visitors.