Historical Re-enactment of the Battle of Circello (1496)

A real battle, as told by Guicciardini

The Historical Re-enactment of the Battle of Circello is not based on legend, but on a documented military event. On June 3, 1496, amidst the wars for control of the Kingdom of Naples, the Aragonese army led by Giovanni Sforza faced French, Swiss, and German troops commanded by Gilbert of Bourbon, lieutenant of Charles VIII and supporter of the Angevin cause, right below Circello. The clash, which marked the end of Angevin attempts to reclaim Naples in this part of the Sannio Apennines, is recorded by Francesco Guicciardini in his History of Italy. It is from these very pages that the Municipality of Circello reconstructed the plot of the re-enactment, giving the event a historical depth that sets it apart from many other costume festivals.

The village transforms into an open-air theater

For the re-enactment weekend, the entire historic center of Circello becomes a stage. The streets and alleys host the historical pageant, followed by the battle itself: over 150 performers—historical groups, artists, volunteers, and local residents—divide into Angevin and Aragonese factions for a simulated fight accompanied by drum rolls, special effects, light shows, and a historical narration that guides the audience step by step. In 2025, Mayor Gianclaudio Golia described it not merely as a re-enactment but as "a collective ritual, a moment of identity that unites culture, spectacle, and civic participation." Indeed, much of the town spends months working on costumes, armor, and logistics.

The Castle of Circello, the heart of the event

The fortress around which the entire narrative revolves is the Castle of Circello, a structure of early medieval origin—the first parts date back to the 10th century—originally protected by seven defensive walls. In 1528, the Duke of Somma had it restored, transforming it from a military keep into a residential palace. The Di Somma family, who had held the fief since 1500, retained ownership until 1950, when the last heir bequeathed it to the Municipality. During the event, the castle and its courtyards are the focus of tours and performances, and its silhouette dominates the final siege scene.

Camps, crafts, and flavors of the Upper Tammaro

The re-enactment is preceded and accompanied by a day of historical immersion that, in past editions, has featured medieval camps with period tents and scenes of military life, practical demonstrations, historical games for adults and children, ancient craft workshops, archery ranges, and performances by flag-wavers, musketeers, and falconers. The gastronomic side is not to be missed: tasting trails dedicated to the typical products of the Upper Tammaro, from cheeses and cured meats to olive oil and grain-based sweets, with hand-crafted buffalo mozzarella being one of the most popular offerings. It is the most direct way to discover a rustic cuisine still tied to the seasons and the land.

Part of the Circello Summer

The Battle of Circello is the flagship event of the Circello Summer, the summer program promoted by the Municipality of Circello that fills Parco San Vito, Via Roma, the medieval castle, and other town squares from July to August with concerts, shows, popular tournaments, trekking, street food, and religious festivals. The re-enactment has benefited from the support of the European Union, the Ministry of Culture, and the Campania Region, a sign of a cultural enhancement project that goes beyond a single evening of entertainment.

Circello and the Benevento Sannio

Circello is a small town in the province of Benevento, in Campania, perched on a ridge overlooking the valleys of the Torti and Tammarecchia streams, in the Upper Tammaro area on the border with Molise and Puglia. This is a land of ancient settlement: around 181 BC, the Romans deported defeated Ligurian populations here, giving rise to the Ligures Baebiani settlement, whose urban structures are still visible in the Macchia di Circello archaeological area. In addition to the medieval village, which dates back to the Norman era, there is the ducal palace, the churches of San Vito and San Nicola, and a fabric of 18th and 19th-century houses that make for a pleasant stroll even outside of festival days. Those arriving for the re-enactment will find much more than just an evening show: a town that tells two thousand years of history.