Zizzona Festival (Nights of the Zizzona)

The Zizzona Festival, Battipaglia's mozzarella celebration

In Battipaglia, in the heart of the Piana del Sele in the province of Salerno, buffalo mozzarella is more than just a product: it is a collective identity. The Zizzona Festival, best known by the name of its event nights, Nights of the Zizzona, was born from this passion, transforming the Zizzona Village on Via Lettonia into a large, convivial open-air space entirely dedicated to Campanian buffalo dairy products for a few summer evenings.

This is not a traditional village fair with stages and parades; the format is more contemporary, featuring gazebos nestled in greenery, indoor and outdoor tables, an open kitchen, and a menu centered entirely around buffalo milk. Admission is free and you only pay for what you consume, making the evening accessible to families, groups of friends, and travelers passing through on the motorway.

What is the Zizzona of Battipaglia?

The Zizzona is a giant-sized buffalo mozzarella, weighing several kilograms, with a characteristic rounded shape that earned it its dialectal name. Produced in Battipaglia by the Caseificio La Fattoria, which has been processing milk since 1988, it has become popular throughout Italy, partly thanks to the cinema: its appearance in the film Benvenuti al Sud made it a small pop-culture symbol of Campanian gastronomy.

During the festival, the Zizzona is served in its most spectacular version: stuffed. It is opened and filled in front of the public with eggplant parmigiana, gnocchi alla sorrentina, buffalo meatballs, or other traditional dishes, then sliced and brought to the table. It is the most photographed moment of the evening and, in fact, the heart of the event.

What to eat

• Stuffed Zizzona in various versions, opened and served to order
• Buffalo mozzarella sandwiches: prosciutto and mozzarella, mortadella and smoked provola, speck and shredded mozzarella, burrata and mortadella, caprese
• Cones (cuoppi) of buffalo meatballs and cherry mozzarella with buffalo cream and pistachio crumble
• First courses such as ravioli with buffalo ragù and gnocchi
• Desserts: ZizzCake with ricotta, cannoli with ricotta or pistachio, and buffalo milk gelato

Reservations are not accepted: you check the menu, order at the till, receive a numbered receipt, and wait for your number to be called. It is a simple formula that handles the influx of busy evenings well, when the square fills up from the very first hours of the night.

An event that tells the story of the Piana del Sele

The Piana del Sele is one of Italy's most suitable areas for breeding Mediterranean buffalo and producing dairy products: an agricultural landscape that stretches from the Sele river to the sea, dotted with stables, dairies, and greenhouses. The Nights of the Zizzona showcase this entire supply chain, from milk produced just a few kilometers away to the finished product, with the fun, popular tone typical of Campania: you eat with your hands, share, and stay at the table until late at night.

Other gastronomic events also revolve around the Zizzona throughout the summer, each dedicated to a different specialty. The result is a small summer calendar that is now highly anticipated in Battipaglia, attracting visitors from Salerno, the Cilento coast, and the Vesuvius area.

Battipaglia, a base for Southern Campania

Battipaglia is one of the most populous towns in the province of Salerno and an important transit hub: from here, you can quickly reach Paestum with its Greek temples, the coast of Agropoli and the Cilento, as well as Salerno, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii. Those planning an evening at the festival can easily combine it with a day of cultural visits or a trip to the beach, turning the gastronomic stop into the perfect finale for a day out.

When it takes place

The dates for the Nights of the Zizzona change from year to year and are announced just a few weeks in advance on the dairy's social media channels. In 2024, the evenings were held in June, while in 2025 they took place on three Saturdays in July; in the past, the festival dedicated to the Zizzona has also been held in August and September. It is always advisable to check the updated calendar before setting off.