Cappella Festival - Madonna di Pompei in Corsano district

A neighborhood festival in the heart of Irpinia

The Cappella Festival is one of the most heartfelt traditions of Corsano district, a small rural community in the municipality of Montecalvo Irpino, in the province of Avellino, deep within the Campania region. This is not a commercial event or a tourist-driven spectacle: it is a neighborhood celebration that brings together the families of the district, those from Montecalvo who live in the town center, and those who return from abroad specifically to attend. For those seeking the authentic Irpinia—the land of cultivated ridges and scattered hillside homes—this is it, unfiltered.

The Madonna di Pompei Chapel

The history of the building dates back to 1938, when Francesco Scarpellino, in gratitude for a received grace, had a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei built in Corsano with the help of the local people. Over the decades, the small structure has become a landmark not only for the district but for the entire surrounding area. Restored in the 1980s, the chapel was blessed in May 1985 in the presence of Archbishop Carlo Minchiatti: it is from that date that the community counts the anniversaries of the reconstruction, reaching the forty-first milestone in 2026.

The bond between Corsano and the image of the Virgin of Pompei extends beyond spring: according to a deep-rooted custom, in September, the painting of the Madonna is taken from the chapel and carried in procession to the town's collegiate church, where the faithful gather to pay homage to the Virgin by reciting the Supplication of Blessed Bartolo Longo. The parish of San Pompilio then celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on the second Sunday of October: three events that, taken together, reflect the strength of Marian devotion in Montecalvo.

The legacy of Father Pompilio

The 2026 edition had a special tone. The festival committee dedicated a moment to the memory of Father Pompilio, the community's historic parish priest who passed away the previous year. Forty-one years ago, he was one of the key figures in the reconstruction of the chapel and, over the years, became a spiritual and human pillar for entire generations. During the celebration, a painting created in his honor was unveiled and presented to his heirs as a sign of the entire district's gratitude. As noted by the local press, Father Pompilio transformed a simple chapel into a place of religious and cultural identity.

What to expect

• Moments of faith and Marian devotion in front of the chapel, with processions and traditional local hymns.
• An intergenerational community gathering: the festival is experienced as an opportunity for different generations of district residents to reconnect.
• A secluded rural setting, at an altitude of 430 meters, surrounded by the Irpinian countryside.
• No tickets, no stages: participation is free and the atmosphere remains intentionally intimate and family-oriented.

When it takes place

Tradition links the Cappella Festival to Ascension Day, a movable date in the liturgical calendar that falls between the second half of May and early June; therefore, the exact day changes from year to year. In 2026, the celebrations were held in mid-May, as reported by the local press on May 18th. A detailed hourly program is not usually published online; it is shared within the district and through the festival committee, as is the case for many rural traditions in the Campanian Apennines.

Corsano and Montecalvo Irpino

Corsano is located less than four kilometers as the crow flies from the center of Montecalvo Irpino and preserves a religious heritage that is surprising for its size: the church of San Nicola, of ancient origins, severely damaged by the 1962 earthquake and reopened for worship in December 2000 after a long restoration, and the memory of Blessed Felice da Corsano, an Augustinian reformer of the 14th century. The district also has its own gastronomic event, the Tomato and Lamb Festival, traditionally held on August 16th, the proceeds of which have contributed to the restorations.

The municipal capital, perched at 623 meters above sea level, is known for its Montecalvo Bread, made with Saragolla durum wheat, which earned the town a place in the national Association of Bread Cities, and for being the birthplace of Saint Pompilio Maria Pirrotti. A visit to the Cappella Festival is easily combined with exploring the village, its bread, and the landscapes of the Irpinian Baronia.