Viccio Festival

A bread ring turned into a village festival

The viccio is a small bread ring that, according to the ancient peasant tradition of Castel San Lorenzo, was kneaded and baked first to check the oven's temperature before baking the weekly bread. A humble, almost technical gesture that time has transformed into a symbol of local identity: today, the viccio is one of the gastronomic icons of this corner of the Salerno province, in Campania, and gives its name to the village's most anticipated summer festival.

The Viccio Festival was born from the desire to restore dignity and visibility to this homemade specialty, presenting it not as a mere folkloric curiosity, but as a piece of collective memory still alive in local families. The festival revolves around this bread ring, accompanied by other local flavors, from cheeses and cured meats to preserves and wines from the Calore Valley.

The Mulino del Principe, a historic setting

The event takes place at the Mulino del Principe, an ancient mill built in 1579 and expertly restored in the early 2000s, now destined to become a true cultural hub and event space for the entire area. The setting, nestled between the mill's stones and the vegetation along the Calore River, is an integral part of the experience: on summer evenings, the site lights up with warmth, the scent of baking, and music.

The site is at the heart of a development project funded by the Ministry of Culture, which offers activities throughout the year to rediscover local heritage: the festival is, in fact, its most popular and well-attended moment.

What to expect at the festival

The format is the tried-and-tested community festival: food and wine stalls, tastings of the renowned viccio every evening, live concerts, and entertainment designed for both adults and children. On weekends, the dining area also opens for lunch, allowing visitors passing through the inland Cilento region to stop during the day.

• Tasting of the viccio and traditional local baked goods
• Local food and wine specialties
• Live music every evening, with concerts and entertainment
• Activities and spaces suitable for families and children
• Side experiences related to the Mulino del Principe project

Who organizes it

The festival is managed by the Youth Forum of Castel San Lorenzo, with the patronage of the municipal administration led by Mayor Giuseppe Scorza. This is a significant detail: it is the local youth who set up the stalls, manage the kitchen, and build the musical program, in a volunteer-based model that has allowed the event to grow year after year, becoming one of the key summer appointments in the Calore Valley. Supporters of the 2026 edition include BCC Capaccio Paestum and Serino.

Castel San Lorenzo and the Calore Valley

Castel San Lorenzo is a small town in the province of Salerno overlooking the Calore Lucano river valley, at the gates of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The town is also known for its winemaking tradition and craftsmanship related to pottery and farm work. Visitors arriving for the festival will find an ideal context to extend their stay: the Alburni villages, the waters of the Calore, the archaeological sites of the Sele plain, and the Cilento coast are all reachable in a day trip.

Why it's worth a visit

The Viccio Festival is not a massive, crowded event: it is a village festival with slow rhythms, shared tables, and music that goes on late into the night. Those seeking the authenticity of inland Campania, far from the most crowded coastal destinations, will find a sincere, family-friendly event here, where food is truly the story of a place rather than just a commercial pretext.