'A Chiena (Water Festival)
The water festival that floods the historic center of Campagna
About 'A Chiena
A river flowing into the city
There is a summer day in Campagna, a village nestled in the Picentini Mountains in the province of Salerno, when the water stops flowing in its bed and rises into the streets. The waters of the Tenza River are diverted at the Chiatrone site and channeled through an ancient artificial canal to Piazza Melchiorre Guerriero: from there, they pour along the main street and into the alleys of the historic center, transforming the town into an urban water landscape. This is 'A Chiena, literally "the flood," one of the most iconic events in all of Campania.
From washing the streets to a popular festival
The origins of the Chiena are not precisely documented, but tradition traces it back to the 17th century, when letting river water flow through the streets was an ingenious system to cleanse the town of summer heat and dust. The first written records regarding the regulation of the artificial canal date back to 1889. What was once a daily hygienic practice has transformed into a collective ritual: since 1982, thanks to the initiative of visual artist Angelo Riviello and a group of local intellectuals, the Chiena has become a true festival of art and community, featuring performances, theater, and popular participation. Today, it is organized by the Pro Loco Città di Campagna and represents the strongest tourist attraction in the area.
The walk and the bucket battle
The ritual has two distinct moments that you should know before arriving:
- The walk — you walk together in the water along the main street, without buckets, immersed up to your ankles or knees. It is the most contemplative and photogenic moment, suitable for families and children.
- The bucket battle — in the afternoon, the real water fight begins: plastic buckets of up to 7 liters, without metal handles, and off you go to cool each other down amidst laughter and shouting throughout the historic center.
In addition to these, there is the Color War, with colored powders mixing with the water in an explosion of joy, and the Midnight Chiena, the most magical appointment: in the dead of night, in mid-August, the town is flooded again while spontaneous music, theater, and dance performances light up the alleys.
A calendar lasting over a month
'A Chiena is not a one-day event: it unfolds over the weekends between July and August, with walks on Saturday afternoons and Sunday at noon, Sunday bucket battles, and a dense program of cultural initiatives. Over the years, recognizable formats have been added, such as InkChiena, dedicated to pop culture with screenings, workshops, cosplayers, and performances; meetings with authors; the Creatives' Chiena with artisans and artists; as well as guided tours of the city's historical heritage and evening aperitifs in the water.
Campagna, the village that transforms
It is worth arriving early and dedicating time to the town even outside the water. Campagna is a medieval-style center, squeezed between rocky walls and crossed by the Tenza, with churches, stone portals, the monumental complex of San Bartolomeo, and an important historical memory: here, during the Second World War, an internment camp housed hundreds of Jews, many of whom were saved thanks to the local population—a story now told by the Museum of Memory and Peace. All around, the trails of the Picentini Mountains Regional Park open up, amidst springs, woods, and peaks exceeding 1,500 meters.
The rules of the festival
The Chiena is a community festival and only works with the respect of some shared rules: no glass bottles or fragile containers, no buckets during the walk (they are only used during the bucket battle), non-slip shoes because the ground is wet, no running or diving, be mindful of those who do not want to get wet, and constant supervision of children. It is best to leave glasses, watches, and valuables at home. The water, it should be noted, is not wasted: after crossing the town, it returns to its natural riverbed.
'A Chiena — edition 2026
'A Chiena 2026
The Pro Loco Città di Campagna has built a program for 2026 lasting over a month, from July 19 to August 23. The heart remains the five Sundays when both the walk and the bucket battle take place, but the calendar expands to include Saturdays of walking only, evening appointments, cultural events, and guided tours of the village.
The waters of the Tenza return to flow along Corso Umberto I and in the alleys of the historic center, with the bulkhead system that regulates the flow and then returns it to the river. Access is limited: on contribution days, the ticket must be purchased in advance online, and those arriving by car park at the Quadrivio, reaching the village with the dedicated shuttle.
Programme 'A Chiena 2026
Sundays with walk and bucket battle
- Sunday, July 19, 2026 — walk at 12:00 PM, bucket battle from 3:30 PM
- Sunday, July 26, 2026 — walk at 12:00 PM, bucket battle from 3:30 PM; in the morning, from 10:00 AM, the Color War
- Sunday, August 2, 2026 — walk at 12:00 PM, bucket battle from 3:30 PM
- Sunday, August 9, 2026 — walk at 12:00 PM, bucket battle from 3:30 PM
- Sunday, August 23, 2026 — walk at 12:00 PM, bucket battle from 3:30 PM, closing of the event
Saturdays of walking
- Saturday, July 25, 2026 — walk from 3:00 PM
- Saturday, August 1, 2026 — walk from 3:00 PM
- Saturday, August 22, 2026 — walk from 3:00 PM
Special appointments
- Aperichiena — Friday, August 7, 2026, from 9:30 PM: aperitif in the water in the historic center
- Midnight Chiena — on the night of August 16, 2026, at midnight: the town is flooded in the dark while spontaneous music, theater, and dance performances come to life in the alleys
- InkChiena — the section dedicated to pop culture, with screenings, workshops, performances, cosplayers, and K-pop activities
- Meeting with the Author and Creatives' Chiena — literary presentations, crafts, and creativity along the main street
- Guided tours of the historic center, concerts, and shows distributed throughout the period
The detailed program of individual evenings is updated by the Pro Loco Città di Campagna on official channels: always check times and availability before leaving.
Highlights 'A Chiena 2026
- The Tenza River diverted into the historic center: walking in the water along Corso Umberto I
- The Sunday bucket battle at 3:30 PM, a collective water fight with buckets up to 7 liters
- The Color War on July 26, with colored powders mixing with the water
- The Midnight Chiena on August 16, the most evocative moment of the Campagna summer
- Aperichiena, InkChiena, and cultural events accompanying the entire calendar
- A medieval village at the foot of the Picentini Mountains to be discovered even outside the water
Prices 'A Chiena 2026
Practical information — 'A Chiena
How to get there
Campagna is located about 45 km from Salerno. By car: A2 del Mediterraneo motorway, Campagna exit, then SS 91 towards the center. By train: Campagna-Serre-Persano station on the Salerno-Battipaglia-Potenza line, followed by a bus connection to the center. The nearest airport is Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi, followed by Naples-Capodichino.
Parking and shuttles
During the days of the Chiena, the historic center is closed to traffic: you can park for free at the Quadrivio di Campagna and reach the village with the shuttle service organized by the Pro Loco (departure from Via Felice Ruggiero, return from the entrance of Corso Umberto I).
Tickets
Admission is by contribution only on days with the walk and bucket battle, with a nominative ticket on Vivaticket and limited capacity. There are discounted rates for groups organized by bus, free admission for children and people with disabilities with a companion, and free registration for residents of Campagna. The contribution includes parking, shuttle, changing rooms, restrooms, information point, first aid, security, and assistance.
Tips
Clothes that can get completely wet, a dry change of clothes, closed non-slip shoes, waterproof case for phone and documents. Arrive well in advance: the most popular Sundays sell out days ahead.
Contacts
Pro Loco Città di Campagna APS — [email protected] — www.prolococampagna.it
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Where does it take place — 'A Chiena
Centro storico di Campagna
Centro storico, Corso Umberto I, 84022 Campagna