Janare of Amalafede

The village that becomes a theatre for three nights

For three nights in July, Amalafede, a tiny hamlet in the municipality of Stella Cilento, in the province of Salerno, Campania, stops being just a cluster of stone houses and becomes an open-air stage. With just over a dozen permanent residents, Amalafede is one of the most secluded spots in the Cilento hinterland: it is precisely this intimate scale—made of narrow alleys, arches, stairways, and courtyards—that makes Janare an experience unlike any typical village festival. There is no central stage to sit in front of here: you walk, turn a corner, and stumble upon a performance.

The 'janara', between legend and Cilento identity

The name of the event refers to the janara, the ancestral figure who permeates Campanian and Cilento folklore: the woman who knows herbs, remedies, and the secrets of the night, passed down for centuries through the oral tales of the elders. The event reinterprets her not as a mere witch to be feared, but as an emblem of autonomy, feminine wisdom, and local identity. This is the thread that ties together the shows, installations, and nocturnal paths: a popular legend used as a key to tell the story of the deepest Cilento, far from the crowded beaches.

An immersive journey through alleys and memory

The artistic program is designed as a sensory journey between enchantment and memory. Along the village, you will encounter roving theatre, street artists, dance performances, and visual displays that guide the audience from corner to corner. The chosen sounds range from Celtic to medieval music, filling the narrow streets after sunset, when artificial light and the darkness of the Cilento countryside do the rest.

• Roving theatre and storytelling inspired by ancient folk legends
• Street artists, fire performances, and aerial dance
• Live music with Celtic and medieval inspiration
• Installations and visual displays along the alleys and in the courtyards
• Direct audience engagement moments

The flavours of Cilento

The gastronomic aspect is not just a side note: the stalls set up in the village offer Cilento specialties, local wines, and artisanal products, with a dining area that in recent years has also included gluten-free options. It is the perfect opportunity to taste the peasant cuisine of this part of the province of Salerno, made of homemade pasta, vegetables, legumes, and local cheeses, in a setting much more intimate than that of the large summer festivals.

Who organizes it and why

The event is conceived and produced by the Accademia UDS Kali in collaboration with the Municipality of Stella Cilento, with the stated goal of promoting the Cilento hinterland and preserving the stories passed down orally by the elders. For a village of twelve inhabitants, this is a true exercise in reactivation: for three evenings, the stones, the alleys, and the collective memory are once again inhabited by hundreds of visitors.

Why it is worth the trip

Janare of Amalafede is one of the most original events of the Cilento summer: not just a concert or a food festival, but a collective ritual built on a local legend. Those who arrive in Stella Cilento will also find an ideal starting point to explore Monte della Stella, the geographical and symbolic heart of ancient Cilento, and the other hamlets of the municipality, from Guarrazzano to San Giovanni Cilento, in an area that is part of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park.