Befana Flight

An Epiphany tradition in the heart of the Irno Valley

In Mercato San Severino, in the province of Salerno, the Epiphany is not just celebrated at home: it is experienced in the town square, with eyes turned upward. The Befana Flight is now a well-established fixture of the municipal Christmas calendar, attracting hundreds of children every year, not only from the town center but also from the surrounding Irno Valley municipalities and the entire area north of Salerno, in Campania.

The mechanism is simple and has proven successful for years: on the evening of January 5th, the Befana appears at the top of the bell tower and slowly descends along a rope to the square, where a crowd of families awaits her. She is safely guided during the descent by rescue specialists, while the anticipation below is marked by music and entertainment.

The San Giovanni bell tower and Piazza Ettore Imperio

The stage is no coincidence. The Church of San Giovanni — also known as San Giovanni in Parco — overlooks Piazza Ettore Imperio, the town's civic living room: it was founded in 1466 along with the adjacent Dominican convent, and today, of the original 15th-century building, the bell tower remains the most prominent feature—the very one from which the Befana takes flight.

The same square is overlooked by Palazzo Vanvitelli (Palazzo Vanvitelliano, now the Town Hall), which was built as part of the same monastic complex and scenographically closes the urban space at the foot of the Lombard castle hill. It is here, in front of the palace, that the evening continues after the flight with a gospel concert.

How the evening unfolds

• From late afternoon: the square comes alive with games, entertainment, and music designed for children, in anticipation of the protagonist's arrival.
• The flight: right on time, the Befana descends from the bell tower and distributes sweets and small gifts to the children gathered in the square.
• The gospel: to conclude, a gospel concert in the space in front of Palazzo Vanvitelli, bringing the evening to a more intimate and musical close.

The "suspended stocking," the charitable heart of the festival

Alongside the spectacle, the Befana Flight has a precise charitable dimension. In the days leading up to the Epiphany, the Youth Forum of Mercato San Severino promotes the "suspended stocking": a collection of sweets and basic necessities intended for children and families in the area who are experiencing hardship. Collection points are set up in Piazza Dante, at the Forum's headquarters, during the afternoons leading up to January 5th.

The idea, summarized by the slogan that accompanies the campaign every year, is that the children's festival should truly belong to all children: those who bring an extra sweet leave it "suspended" for someone else, exactly as is done with the traditional Neapolitan "suspended coffee."

An event that closes the Christmas calendar

The Befana Flight represents the final stage of a Christmas program that stretches over several weeks in Mercato San Severino, featuring illuminations, artistic markets, creative workshops, living nativity scenes, charity initiatives, and concerts spread from the center to the outlying districts. The municipal administration led by Mayor Antonio Somma has repeatedly emphasized the goal of these events: to foster community, bring vitality back to the squares, and offer visibility to local businesses.

Tips for participants

• This is an outdoor evening event in the middle of winter: warm clothing is essential, especially for children who remain standing in the square while waiting.
• The square fills up well before the flight time: arriving early helps to find a good spot to see the bell tower.
• Access is free and no reservation is required.
• Those who wish to participate in the "suspended stocking" can bring sweets and basic necessities to the collection points in the preceding days.