Festival of Maria SS. della Carità and San Gerardo Maiella

The patronal festival of Moschiano

During the first ten days of August, the small town of Moschiano, in the province of Avellino, Campania, experiences the most intense moment of its year: the patronal festival in honor of Maria Santissima della Carità and San Gerardo Maiella. For several days, the Vallo di Lauro village is filled with illuminations, market stalls, and music, while liturgical celebrations mark the days until late at night. The organization is entrusted to the Festival Committee, which works in close collaboration with the parish and the municipal administration: a collective effort involving the entire community, including emigrant families who return to the village specifically for these days.

Two patrons, one devotion

Moschiano is linked to a dual devotion. On one hand, the Madonna della Carità, venerated in the sanctuary located on the hills above the town; on the other, San Gerardo Maiella, one of the most beloved saints in Southern Italy, whose statue accompanies that of the Virgin in the town's processions. In 2025, the celebrations were led by Father Vito and Father Giuseppe Napolitano, with the usual support of the Festival Committee and the Municipality.

The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Carità

The sanctuary dates back to the 15th century and, according to local tradition, was built after the Virgin appeared to a shepherdess. Restored in the 19th century, it remains an important place of pilgrimage for the entire Vallo di Lauro today. The oldest written records of the sanctuary's festivals date back to 1868, but the devotion is likely much older. In addition to the August festival, the sanctuary is a destination for processions on Easter Monday and Whit Monday—with masses from dawn, brotherhoods in procession, and final fireworks—and on June 14th, when the coronation of the Madonna is commemorated.

The rites: torches, pontifical mass, and processions

The religious heart of the patronal festival is concentrated over three days. The program usually includes the pontifical mass by the Bishop of Nola, first communions, the evocative torchlight procession that climbs from Moschiano towards the sanctuary, and, finally, processions with the Blessed Sacrament and the statues of the patron saints through the streets of the town. The reference point in the center is the Parish Church of Maria SS. della Carità, in Piazza IV Novembre.

The secular side: bands, illuminations, and major concerts

Alongside the rites, the Moschiano festival has a well-curated secular side, which in some years has extended up to eight days. The Festival Committee has brought prominent names from the Neapolitan and Italian scene to the town: in the 2023 edition, for example, Enzo Avitabile performed with the bottari, Tony Colombo on August 7th, and Gigi D'Alessio, who closed the festivities on the night of San Lorenzo, August 10th, in the area of the former sports field. There is never a shortage of artistic illuminations, brass bands, and the concluding fireworks display, which attracts audiences from all over the Vallo di Lauro.

Moschiano, a village in the Vallo di Lauro

With about 1,600 inhabitants and an altitude of 276 meters, Moschiano is about twenty-five kilometers from Avellino. The historic center preserves the Church of the Body of Christ, with a 16th-century Pietà, a 19th-century Communion of the Apostles, and a carved Renaissance portal, as well as the Church of the Immaculate Conception, documented as early as the 14th century. The territory is known for the Marrone di Santa Cristina (chestnut), the Noce di San Martino (walnut), hazelnuts, and Caciocavallo Silano PDO cheese.

A calendar of festivals throughout the year

The August patronal festival is not the only event in the town: the Moschiano calendar also includes the Chestnut Festival in October, the Carnival with the quadrille and allegorical floats, the living nativity scene between December 26th and 31st, Saint Blaise on February 3rd, Saint Anne on July 26th, Saint Lucy on December 13th, and the Porchetta Festival in summer.

When to go

The dates traditionally fall in the first ten days of August: in 2024, the festivities took place from August 3rd to 12th, while other local sources place the core of the celebrations between the 7th and 12th. Since the calendar may vary, it is advisable to check dates and programs on the channels of the Municipality of Moschiano, the parish, and the Festival Committee. Admission is free.