Eccellenza Sannicolese and Appia Day

An award and a road: the identity of San Nicola la Strada

The town's very name tells its story: San Nicola la Strada owes its existence to the Via Appia, the ancient Regina Viarum (Queen of Roads) that runs through its center and remains its primary urban axis today. It is no surprise, then, that this town near the Royal Palace of Caserta, in the heart of Campania, has chosen this consular road as the common thread for its most cherished cultural event. Every year, in early October, the Pro Loco of San Nicola la Strada brings together the 'Eccellenza Sannicolese' award ceremony and the Appia Day celebrations, a national event that mobilizes associations, museums, and volunteers across Italy along the path of the Appian Way.

The 'Eccellenza Sannicolese' Award

This recognition is presented by the Pro Loco to fellow citizens who, through their professional or personal achievements, have promoted the town beyond the borders of the Caserta province. The ceremony takes place in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, one of the most spacious and symbolic venues in the town center, and carries the sober yet heartfelt tone of a civic celebration: reading of the motivations, personal testimonies from the awardees, and the presence of local government and community associations.

In the 2025 edition, the award was presented to three distinct figures representing different fields of excellence: internationally renowned soprano Rosa Feola for the arts, entrepreneur Clemente Pascarella for his contribution to local employment, and Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Marco Iannuzzi, an athlete at the Paralympic Games and Invictus Games, for sports. This formula works because it offers the community a narrative of itself based on real people rather than rhetoric.

Appia Day, celebrating the Regina Viarum

Immediately following the awards, the focus shifts to Appia Day, a national initiative created to promote the Via Appia, which has grown significantly since the road's inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In San Nicola la Strada, the events are part of the circuit coordinated by the Regional Directorate of Museums of Campania and the MAAC (Archaeological Museum of Ancient Capua, Mithraeum, Campanian Amphitheater), with the patronage of the Municipality and the collaboration of Sport e Salute S.p.A.

The exhibition hub is Spazio Loretta at Via Appia 1, where an interactive panel exhibition dedicated to the history of the consular road and its passage through the local territory is set up. The exhibition remains open throughout the month of October, turning the event into a small, permanent cultural landmark.

Music, sports, and community

The program alternates between different formats designed for diverse audiences:

• Chamber music — the concert 'Music and culture along the path of the Appia', performed in 2025 by the Duo Mareluna (violin and guitar) under the coordination of the Yamaha Music School Academy.
• Interactive exhibition — ten panels on the Via Appia at Spazio Loretta, with extended opening hours.
• Flash mob — the collective Sunday morning gathering in Piazza Parrocchia, the town's usual meeting point.
• Sports activities — demonstrations and open trials hosted by local clubs: basketball, youth basketball, dance, and karate.

Why it is worth visiting

This is not a major tourist attraction, nor does it claim to be: it is a community festival that uses culture as a unifying force. Visitors from outside the area will find an unusual perspective on the Caserta region—that of the Roman road that shaped the town—and the opportunity to combine the visit with the nearby Royal Palace of Caserta, the Campanian Amphitheater of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, or the monumental complex of San Leucio, all just a few minutes away by car.

The atmosphere is typical of Italian Pro Loco initiatives: volunteers at the forefront, free admission, relaxed rhythms, and great willingness to share local history with visitors. It is an authentic way to understand how, in Campania, archaeological heritage is not just museum material but part of a town's daily life.