Christmas in Montoro

A widespread Christmas, hamlet by hamlet

Christmas in Montoro is not a single event concentrated in one square, but a programme that spans over a month across the entire municipal territory. Montoro, in the province of Avellino, was established in 2013 through the merger of Montoro Inferiore and Montoro Superiore and comprises about fifteen hamlets: Banzano, Borgo, Torchiati, Piano, San Pietro, Sant'Eustachio, Preturo, San Bartolomeo, Piazza di Pandola, Misciano, Figlioli, Caliano, Aterrana, Chiusa, and San Felice. The Christmas calendar is built around this scattered geography: each village lights its own tree, sets up its own nativity scene, and hosts its own event. The result is an itinerary that invites visitors to explore, discovering small squares and churches that remain off the beaten tourist path for the rest of the year.

Nativity scenes, trees, and illuminations

The visual heart of the festival lies in its decorations. From December 1st to Epiphany, the Banzano Pro Loco manages the nativity scene in the square of the same name, while on December 8th — the traditional start of the festive season in Italy — the community tree lighting in San Pietro, the Christmas illuminations in Banzano, and the installation of a second tree by the AMDOS association take place. In the Borgo hamlet, the parish of San Leucio e Pantaleone presents a staged nativity scene, while in San Pietro, the living nativity scene by the Pro Loco Città di Montoro takes the stage, with performances between Christmas and January 6th. This is the most deeply rooted form of popular devotion in Campania, interpreted here in a communal spirit with dozens of residents participating as actors.

Music, theatre, and exhibitions

The performance side of the programme is entrusted to local cultural groups. The Teatro Popolare Montorese presents a series of plays at the Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Torchiati, one of the most evocative spots in the area; the Pro Loco Città di Montoro organizes the Christmas Concert in the Piano hamlet, the municipal seat; the Contemporaneamente Association brings the musical evening «Timeless Notes» to the San Bartolomeo Art Gallery. Photography is also featured, with an exhibition in Piazza di Pandola that remains open well beyond the holidays, until the end of January.

Children, families, and solidarity

A significant portion of the programme is dedicated to children: the Santa's Villages rotating between Piano, Banzano, and Torchiati, the Christmas playroom hosted at the Pironti Comprehensive Institute, the recreational workshops and games for children in Sant'Eustachio, «Santa's Enchanted Square» organized by the SS. Salvatore parish in Torchiati, and the «Christmas Stables» at the Taurus Ranch in Preturo. Alongside this, the Youth Forum promotes «Happiness Mission — A Gift for a Smile», a toy collection for families in need, and the Pro Loco Città di Montoro relaunches the «Let's Support Montoro» initiative to encourage local commerce.

A festival built by associations

The distinctive feature of this festival is its organizational model: the Municipal Administration coordinates, but it is the Pro Loco associations (Banzano, Città di Montoro, Circolo San Pantaleone), parishes, the Youth Forum, AMDOS, Convivendum, the Teatro Popolare Montorese, and other groups that bring the events to life. The programme was born in December 2024 as a first experiment in a unified calendar and is repeated the following year in an expanded form. For a community of nearly twenty thousand inhabitants spread across such a fragmented territory, it is also an exercise in social cohesion: the December festivities become an opportunity for historically distinct hamlets to engage with one another.

Montoro, between Irpinia and the Irno Valley

Located at the entrance to the valley connecting Avellino to Salerno, Montoro is a natural gateway between inland Irpinia and the Campanian plain. The landscape is defined by hazelnut groves — the Giffoni hazelnut and local Irpinian varieties dominate the surrounding hills — and ancient agricultural districts. Those visiting the area during the Christmas period will find, in addition to the events, seasonal gastronomy worth the trip: struffoli, roccocò, mustacciuoli, pasta and beans, minestra maritata, as well as cheeses and cured meats from local producers served at the Christmas aperitifs organized by the Pro Loco.

When to go

The peak period runs from December 8th to Epiphany, with a concentration of events on weekends and between December 26th and January 6th. Those wishing to see the living nativity scenes should aim for the days immediately following Christmas and the Epiphany. All events in the programme are free to attend.