Carolino Festival in Durazzano

A festival following the course of the Carolino Aqueduct

The Carolino Festival is a traveling musical event that brings concerts to the sites crossed by the Carolino Aqueduct, the grand hydraulic engineering feat designed by Luigi Vanvitelli to supply the Royal Palace of Caserta, recognized by UNESCO alongside the Vanvitellian complex and the Real Belvedere of San Leucio. Curated by the Vanvitellando Association under the artistic direction of Marco Stallone, the festival moves along the thirty-eight kilometers of the historical route, from the Caserta plains to the gates of the Valle Caudina.

The Durazzano stop, in the Sannio region, is one of the most scenic on the route: it takes place in the open countryside, in front of the bridge-canal built by the aqueduct to cross the valley on the border between the province of Benevento and the province of Caserta. The event is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Durazzano and is part of a journey to rediscover the historical, architectural, and landscape heritage of the inland areas of Campania.

The Ponte della Tagliola, Vanvitelli's lesser-known masterpiece

While the Ponti della Valle in Valle di Maddaloni are the most famous and photographed section of the aqueduct, the Ponte della Tagliola — also known locally as the Ponte della Valle di Durazzano — remains an almost secret monument, nestled in the vegetation along the Strada Provinciale 133. It is one of the most significant and least-visited structures of the 18th-century hydraulic system: a work that tells, through its sobriety, the expertise of Bourbon engineers in channeling water from the Fizzo springs to the fountains of the royal park.

The bridge has even been highlighted among the Luoghi del Cuore (Places of the Heart) by FAI, a sign of local affection that has translated in recent years into enhancement initiatives, excursions, and study activities. The festival's guided tour, led by local experts, is for many visitors the first real opportunity to get up close to this architecture.

The evening's format: walk first, then listen

The format is well-tested and intentionally simple. In the late afternoon, as the light begins to soften, the audience gathers at the Masseria del Ponte, the historic residence overlooking the Vanvitellian structure, to take part in a free guided tour dedicated to the bridge and its historical context. It is a walking tour, suitable for everyone, that explains the hydraulic function of the work, the construction techniques, and the role of the aqueduct in transforming the agricultural landscape.

At 9:00 PM, the evening continues with a concert hosted in the courtyard of the farmhouse. The Carolino Festival's musical programming favors chamber ensembles and auteur projects: from contemporary jazz to classical music, from duo repertoires to international artists invited as part of the festival's International Project. Admission is free; however, booking is required for the guided tour as space is limited.

MaratonArt: a cultural corridor between the Royal Palace and Valle Caudina

The Carolino Festival is one of the souls of MaratonArt, an integrated project selected by the Royal Palace of Caserta as part of the call for participatory enhancement of UNESCO sites, with the patronage of the Campania Region. MaratonArt brings together local associations — including Vanvitellando, various Pro Loco groups, and sports organizations — and alternates concerts, trekking, cultural meetings, and the famous Ecomaratona dell'Acquedotto Carolino, the race that follows the route of the aqueduct on foot. The municipalities involved range from Caserta and Maddaloni to Airola, Moiano, Bucciano, Sant'Agata de' Goti, Montesarchio, and, of course, Durazzano.

Durazzano, the gateway from Sannio to the Terra di Lavoro

Durazzano is a small town of just over two thousand inhabitants on the extreme western border of the province of Benevento, in an agricultural valley surrounded by the mountains that separate the Sannio from the Caserta plains. Olive groves, vineyards, and farmhouses define a landscape deeply marked by the presence of the aqueduct. The festival evening is often integrated into the municipal summer calendar, filled with food festivals, children's shows, and gastronomic events: another reason to combine the concert with a stop in the village.

Information and bookings

Participation is free, but the guided tour has limited capacity: booking is done via the online form provided by the organizers or by contacting the Vanvitellando Association via email or phone. It is recommended to arrive a few minutes early and wear comfortable shoes, as the meeting point is located on a country road.