Conca dei Marini Carnival (Janare Carnival)

The Conca dei Marini Carnival: when the janare return to the alleys

In Conca dei Marini, a tiny town on the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno, Campania, Carnival is more than just a masquerade parade: it is the moment the village reenacts its most famous legend, that of the janare. Also known as the Janare Carnival, the event is promoted by the Pro Loco Association of Conca dei Marini in collaboration with the local council and is the village's most popular winter gathering.

The legend of the janare

According to local tradition, in the 16th century, some women of the village would gather on moonless nights in an olive grove near the church of San Pancrazio, not far from the Emerald Grotto and the fjord. Tales passed down by the elderly describe them as witches capable of flight, but many local interpretations more simply identify them as the wives of Conca's sailors, left alone for long months while their husbands were at sea: the loneliness and the strict social codes of the time likely drove these women to meet at night, wrapped in long white nightgowns. The term janara is linked to the Latin ianua, meaning 'door', because people would place an overturned broom or salt in front of their thresholds to keep them away.

The Pro Loco chose to revive these stories, presenting them for the first time during the 2008 Carnival: since then, the reenactment has become the defining identity of the festival, the only pagan-rooted event in a local calendar dominated by religious observances.

The parade from the Santa Rosa Monastery to Piazza Olmo

The heart of the day is the masquerade parade. The procession forms near the Santa Rosa Monastery, the ancient convent overlooking the sea to which tradition links the recipe for the famous santarosa sfogliatella pastry, and from there it travels through the streets and alleys of the village to Piazza Olmo, the living room of Conca dei Marini.

Traffic is suspended along the route: a municipal ordinance prohibits vehicle transit between Largo Monastero Santa Rosa and Piazza Olmo, while during the activities in the square, traffic moves at a slow pace with alternating one-way flow. The result is a safe walk that is also enjoyed for its scenery, as the road runs sheer above the gulf and the sea of the Amalfi Coast serves as a backdrop to the costumes.

A festival designed for children

The Conca dei Marini Carnival is explicitly aimed at children. After the parade arrives, Piazza Olmo transforms into an entertainment area with shows, music, and games that continue throughout the afternoon. In recent editions, the day has concluded in a convivial atmosphere, with the distribution of sweets and drinks to participants and the participation of masked groups from other coastal towns, such as the Maiori Carnival.

• Masquerade parade open to children, families, and local groups
• Entertainment, music, and shows in Piazza Olmo
• Reenactment of the janare, the festival's core identity
• Convivial finale with sweets and drinks

Conca dei Marini and the Amalfi Coast

Conca dei Marini is one of the smallest municipalities in Campania and is part of the 'Borghi più belli d'Italia' (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) circuit. Its name remains linked to the Emerald Grotto, the Capo di Conca fjord, and the Santa Rosa Monastery, but also to a long history of seafaring people: it was precisely the departure of the sailors that, in popular storytelling, gave substance to the legend of the janare.

In winter, when the Amalfi Coast empties of tourist crowds, the Carnival restores a purely local dimension to the village streets. Visitors to the area off-season will find an authentic festival, not built for tourism, where the village recognizes itself and tells its own story.

When it takes place

The Janare Carnival traditionally falls on a Saturday during the Carnival period, between February and early March depending on the calendar. In 2025, the parade was held on Saturday, March 1st, and in 2026 on Saturday, February 21st. The usual schedule sees the parade depart in the early afternoon, with activities in Piazza Olmo continuing until the evening.