Along the Appian Way of the Traini

An open-air museum on the ancient Appian Way

Lungo l'Appia dei Traini is the vintage car and classic Vespa rally that brings Pratola Serra to life every year in early July. Located in the heart of Irpinia and the Campania region, this town in the province of Avellino hosts an event named after the traini—the horse-drawn carts that traversed the ancient Appian Way for centuries. Pratola Serra sits in a strategic position along the commercial axis that once connected Naples to Puglia, and it is from this history of transit that the idea of showcasing the evolution of "motive power," from agricultural carts to automobiles, was born.

A rally growing since 2016

The event was established in 2016 through the initiative of the Pro Loco of Pratola Serra, with the patronage of the municipal administration and the support of the national Città dei Motori association, of which the Irpinian town is a founding member. In the early editions, the registration limit was set to the 1980s, and even then, vehicles paraded through the vineyards of the three local DOCG wine areas. Edition after edition, the rally has grown to become one of the most popular events in the Campanian calendar dedicated to historic vehicles, attracting collectors and enthusiasts from across the province and neighboring regions.

Vintage cars and Vespas registered up to 1984

Participation is reserved for vintage cars and Vespas registered up to 1984, with valid documentation and insurance. The vehicles are displayed along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the town's main street, which transforms for a morning into an open-air gallery dedicated to the history of Italian mobility: economy cars from the post-war boom, sedans, spiders, and, of course, the scooters that powered mass motorization. The public can stroll among the vehicles, chat with the owners, and discover technical details of models rarely seen on the road today.

The Slow Race and the caravan through Irpinia

One of the most anticipated moments is the Slow Race, a test of slowness organized in collaboration with the Vespa Club Avellino: the winner is the one who takes the longest to complete the course without putting a foot on the ground—a test of balance and skill that delights both adults and children. At noon, the caravan leaves the center of Pratola Serra for a scenic tour through the Irpinian hills, with stops dedicated to the heritage of neighboring towns: recent editions have included guided tours of the Paleochristian Basilica of Santa Maria Annunziata in Prata di Principato Ultra, and in the past, the Castello della Leonessa in Montemiletto.

Territory, food, and slow travel

The rally goes beyond a mere passion for engines: it is designed as a day to promote the region, where vehicles become the excuse to showcase the landscapes, churches, villages, and food products of Irpinia. The day typically concludes with an optional lunch at a partner farmhouse or restaurant, featuring a menu of traditional Irpinian dishes. It is this combination of engines, culture, and gastronomy that has given the event its identity: not a speed race, but an occasion for socializing and slow travel.

Why it is worth participating

• Free admission and registration for both participants and the public.
• Gadgets and breakfast offered to the first 150 registrants.
• A static exhibition open to visitors all morning in the town center.
• The Slow Race, spectacular and suitable for children.
• A road parade crossing some of the most beautiful panoramas in the province of Avellino.

Pratola Serra, town of motors

Pratola Serra's automotive vocation is no coincidence: the municipal territory is home to one of the major automotive plants in Campania, historically linked to engine production, and the town is a member of the national Città dei Motori network. The "Lungo l'Appia dei Traini" rally gives this industrial identity a popular and accessible face, returning to the community a festival that unites rural memory, industrial archaeology, and a passion for collecting.