Wild Asparagus Festival

A festival dedicated to the wild asparagus of the Alburni

The Wild Asparagus Festival is one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of spring in the hinterland of the province of Salerno. It takes place every year in mid-May in the Canneto district, a hamlet of the Municipality of Postiglione, in Campania. In 2026, it marked its 26th edition—a milestone that speaks volumes about the loyalty of its public, consisting of families, hikers, and curious visitors from across the Sele Valley and the Cilento region.

The star of the show is the wild asparagus, the spontaneous sprout that emerges in spring among the dry-stone walls, woods, and pastures of the Alburni Mountains. Harvesting it is an ancient and patient ritual, passed down through generations here. The festival was created specifically to showcase this humble yet incredibly fragrant product, which is never wasted in the traditional cuisine of the Alburni.

Where it takes place: the Oasi degli Alburni

The event is hosted by the Oasi degli Alburni, located at Contrada Canneto 89, just a few minutes from the historic centre of Postiglione. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are available to accommodate hundreds of diners even in uncertain weather, with on-site parking provided. We are at an altitude of approximately 600 metres, at the foot of the limestone massif of the Alburni, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: a setting of woods and panoramas that, on clear days, stretches all the way to the sea.

The festival menu

The heart of the festival is a menu entirely built around wild asparagus, served for both lunch (from 1:00 PM) and dinner (from 8:00 PM) on both days. The dishes offered are those of the Alburni tradition:

• Fusilli with asparagus sauce, fresh hand-rolled pasta
• Cavatelli with chickpeas and asparagus, the quintessential humble dish of the Salerno mountains
• Pork loin with wild asparagus
• Asparagus frittata, seasonal side dish, bread, and local wine

The full tray costs 15 euros, while those who prefer a lighter meal can order a single dish with wine for 7 euros. Given the popularity of the event, booking is highly recommended.

Music, dancing, and conviviality

Beyond the food, there is the celebration itself. The programme includes evening entertainment on Saturday—karaoke, folk dancing, and music under the stars—while Sunday afternoon is dedicated to live folk music, with traditional Cilento groups bringing tammorre, accordions, and tarantellas to the square. It is the moment when the festival becomes one big collective table, with different generations dancing together.

Postiglione, the balcony of the Alburni

Those arriving for the festival should take a few hours to explore the village. Postiglione is a small town of just over two thousand inhabitants, perched on the western slopes of the Alburni and dominated by an imposing 11th-century Norman castle, which is open to visitors and overlooks a panorama that spans from the Sele Plain to the gulf. The historic centre is a maze of alleys and stone houses where you can find the 16th-century church of San Giorgio, the 14th-century bell tower of San Nicola, and the church of Santa Maria. A little higher up, at about a thousand metres, lies the Sant'Elia cave, a classic destination for those hiking in the Alburni.

Why it's worth the trip

The Wild Asparagus Festival is not a manufactured tourist trap: it is a village festival that has grown around a product harvested by hand in the surrounding woods, offering affordable prices and generous portions. For those who want to understand the cuisine of the Salerno hinterland—made of fresh pasta, legumes, wild herbs, and pork—it is one of the most authentic events in the May calendar of Campania.