Inter-Municipal Carnival (Alfano leg)

An off-season carnival in the heart of Cilento

The Inter-Municipal Carnival is one of the most original events in the Salerno province calendar: a carnival not celebrated in February, during the "canonical" days leading up to Lent, but in spring, when the days grow longer and the mountain villages of inland Cilento come back to life. This well-established choice allows small communities to work calmly on building floats and choreography and to enjoy the parade in milder weather.

The format is that of a travelling, inter-municipal event: one big festival spread over several weekends and multiple villages, each hosting a leg. Alfano, a tiny village of a few hundred inhabitants overlooking the inland hills of Cilento, traditionally hosts one of the circuit's legs, which in recent years has also served as the opening event.

The participating municipalities

The circuit stems from an agreement between the Pro Loco associations and the administrations of several neighboring towns in the inland Cilento, in Campania. Over the years, the following have taken part in the event:

• Alfano, host of a leg and, in the 2026 edition, the opening event;
• Rofrano, with the parade along the main street of the village;
• Laurito, with the route starting from the Sant'Antonio area and reaching Piazza San Giovanni Battista;
• Montano Antilia, which hosted the grand finale and the announcement of the winners in 2026;
• Torre Orsaia, present as a guest in the 2026 edition.

The result is a "diffused" carnival that, instead of pitting villages against each other, connects them: the same floats and masked groups travel from one town to another, bringing music, dancing, and entertainment with them.

Allegorical floats, masks, and choreography

The heart of the event is the parade. The allegorical floats, built in the preceding months by groups of volunteers, travel through the village streets accompanied by hundreds of masked participants, costumed groups, and specially prepared choreography. At the end of the route, the party continues in the square with music and entertainment for all ages.

All legs contribute to a single final ranking. There are four award categories:

• Best Float
• Best Choreography
• Best Mask
• Best Masked Group

The winners are announced at the final leg of the circuit, which officially closes the carnival.

Why it is worth a visit

Those who know Cilento primarily for its sea and archaeological sites will find a different face of the territory here: that of the inland villages, where festivals are still a community affair rather than a packaged tourist product. The Inter-Municipal Carnival is a concrete opportunity for social gathering and the promotion of small mountain towns, built almost entirely on the voluntary work of the Pro Loco.

A visit can easily be combined with exploring the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, which surrounds these villages, and enjoying local gastronomy, consisting of simple products and traditional peasant recipes.

Quick practical information

• Where: Alfano (SA), Campania — Inland Cilento.
• When: In spring, over several weekends; the Alfano leg opens the circuit.
• Organizers: The Pro Loco associations of the involved municipalities (Pro Loco Alfano, A.S.C. Pro Loco Laurito, Pro Loco Rofrano), with the patronage of the municipal administrations.
• For whom: Families, children, and fans of folk traditions.