Cortiglie e Borghi in Festa (with Enrico Caruso International Festival)

A festival bringing life back to the courtyards of Piedimonte Matese

Cortiglie e Borghi in Festa is the event through which the Municipality of Piedimonte Matese, in the province of Caserta (Campania), celebrates the vibrant local spirit of its districts in early September. For an entire weekend, the streets, squares, churches, and courtyards—the cortiglie that give the festival its name—open up to reveal hidden beauty, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and social gatherings. It is one of the most anticipated September events in the city and is part of the cultural, religious, natural, and gastronomic tourism routes promoted by the local administration.

Two districts, two souls

The event unfolds across two distinct yet complementary historic settings: the Vallata district, including Via Annunziata, Piazzetta dell'Annunziata, and Piazza Pioppetelli, and the San Giovanni village, featuring Piazza Santa Maria Vecchia and the Eagle Courtyard of the Ducal Palace. Architectural lighting enhances the facades, arches, and portals, while evening markets and food stalls bring the route to life starting at 7:00 PM.

The Enrico Caruso International Festival

The artistic heart of the festival is the Enrico Caruso International Festival, which reached its fourth edition in 2025. This tribute is no coincidence: the great tenor's father, Marcellino Caruso, was a native of Piedimonte Matese, while his mother, Anna Baldini, came from Castello del Matese. The city thus claims a direct link to one of the most famous voices in music history, making it the centerpiece of a gala evening in the square, featuring Neapolitan and operatic repertoires.

Art, education, and community

Alongside music, the festival highlights local associations. The live painting competition organized by the Le Muse del Matese association brought artists from across Campania and Molise in 2025 to paint live among the Vallata courtyards, with an awards ceremony in Piazza dell'Annunziata. Schools also participate: fifth-grade primary school students staged a performance dedicated to the town's memory. Local choirs, traditional singing groups, and dance companies complete a program intentionally designed as a collective effort, built in collaboration with the parish, the confraternity, and the local Pro Loco.

Why it's worth the trip

• A historic center to explore on foot: stone portals, private courtyards open to the public, and glimpses of the Matese mountains.
• Live Neapolitan music, from historical Piedigrotta songs to opera, in open-air squares with free access.
• Local gastronomy at stalls set up along the route, featuring typical products of the Matese area.
• A local audience: the festival was born for the community and maintains an authentic atmosphere, far from large commercial events.

Piedimonte Matese and its surroundings

At the foot of the Matese massif, Piedimonte is the main hub of the Alto Casertano region and an ideal base for excursions to Lake Matese, Castello del Matese, and the valley's villages. Visitors arriving for the festival can easily combine a tour of the historic center with a day in the mountains or an itinerary through the town's churches and noble palaces, starting with the Ducal Palace, which hosts some of the evening events.