Le Notti dei Briganti
Four nights of historical re-enactment of brigandage in the Matese village of Caserta
About Notti dei Briganti
Le Notti dei Briganti: Bringing Matese history to the stage
At the end of every July, the historic centre of San Gregorio Matese, a small mountain town in the province of Caserta, Campania, becomes an open-air stage. Nestled at an altitude of approximately 765 metres within the Matese Regional Park, just a few kilometres from Lake Matese, the village has hosted one of the most heartfelt re-enactments in the upper Caserta area for nearly twenty years. Le Notti dei Briganti is more than just a village festival: it is a collective narrative of post-unification brigandage, the era of revolt, poverty, and exile that swept through the Matese mountains after the Unification of Italy.
From 2006 to today: A grassroots event
The event was established in 2006 by the I Briganti del Matese association, with the goal of commemorating that period through storytelling, performances, and historical reconstructions rather than relying solely on gastronomy. Over the years, it has grown into a defining identity event for the entire district, carried forward by the Le Notti dei Briganti association—presided over by Maria Boiano—in collaboration with the Municipality of San Gregorio Matese, local entities, and a network of volunteers. In 2026, the XIX Scorribanda was celebrated from 23 to 26 July.
What to see in the village
- Performers in period costumes animating the alleys, courtyards, and squares of the historic centre;
- Roving theatrical performances and folk theatre scenes dedicated to peasant resistance;
- The Scorribanda dei Briganti, a parade-performance featuring wandering musicians and folk rhythms that gives the edition its name;
- A market showcasing Matese crafts and agri-food products along the village streets;
- Evening concerts in Piazza Beniamino Caso, the beating heart of the event;
- Meetings and panel discussions with journalists and historians on the phenomenon of Southern brigandage.
True stories, not legends
The strength of the festival lies in its refusal to reduce brigands to folkloric caricatures. The narrative is based on real figures from the Matese area between the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Maria Maddalena De Lellis, known as "Padovella," and Andrea Santaniello, the right-hand man of the brigand Cosimo Giordano. Brigandage is presented for what it truly was: a complex phenomenon born from the misery and social upheaval of post-unification Italy, where survival and rebellion remained inextricably linked.
The flavours of Matese
During the festival evenings, food stalls set up in the village offer dishes from the Caserta mountains: pecora al cotturo (stewed mutton), polenta, tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, and local cheeses, accompanied by products from the agri-food market. This is an essential part of the experience, as the pastoral cuisine of the Matese is, in itself, a historical document of the territory.
Before the festival: Trekking with the Brigands
For several years, the event has been preceded by Trekking con i Briganti, an excursion along ancient mountain paths where hiking blends with historical narration, folk songs, and costumed performers. In 2026, it took place on Sunday, 12 July, with association president Maria Boiano and folk musician Paolo Petraroli: a preview that turns the landscape itself into a witness to the story.
Why it's worth the trip
Those who arrive in San Gregorio Matese on these nights find an entire village involved: music, theatre, history, and cuisine flow seamlessly through the streets of the centre. It is also an opportunity to discover a lesser-travelled corner of Campania, defined by high-altitude pastures, trails, and a karst lake—a stark contrast to the coastal image usually associated with the region.
Notti dei Briganti — edition 2026
The XIX Scorribanda
The 2026 edition of Le Notti dei Briganti, the nineteenth, was held in San Gregorio Matese from 23 to 26 July 2026. The event, organised by the Le Notti dei Briganti association together with the Municipality and local entities, confirmed the formula that led to its success: historical research, collective memory, and popular tradition staged along the village alleys.
The opening took place on Thursday, 23 July, at 9:00 PM at Villa Ginevra, followed by the roving theatrical performance Per legittima resistenza by the La Giostra degli Alarbi company, which traversed the historic centre. Over the following three evenings, the village came alive with a market of agri-food and craft products, food stalls, and the traditional Scorribanda dei Briganti, featuring roving performances by Ritmi Popolari, Alma Antiqua, and the Uomo Orchestra.
Each evening concluded with a grand finale in Piazza Beniamino Caso, featuring three names in Southern folk music: Assurd on Friday 24, Rotarossa on Saturday 25, and Ars Nova Napoli on Sunday 26 July. On Sunday at 7:00 PM, the closing meeting dedicated to the story of post-unification brigandage also took place, featuring historical panels, ballads, and folk theatre scenes.
Programme Notti dei Briganti 2026
Thursday 23 July 2026
- 9:00 PM — Villa Ginevra: Official inauguration of the XIX Scorribanda.
- Followed by the roving theatrical performance Per legittima resistenza by the La Giostra degli Alarbi company through the historic centre.
Friday 24 July 2026
- Craft and Matese agri-food market in the village alleys.
- Food stalls with typical dishes from the Caserta mountains.
- Scorribanda dei Briganti: Roving performances with Ritmi Popolari, Alma Antiqua, and Uomo Orchestra.
- Concert in Piazza Beniamino Caso: Assurd.
Saturday 25 July 2026
- Market, food stalls, and roving entertainment in the historic centre.
- Performers in period costumes and historical re-enactments of post-unification brigandage.
- Concert in Piazza Beniamino Caso: Rotarossa.
Sunday 26 July 2026
- 7:00 PM: Meeting and storytelling session on brigandage, with historical panels, ballads, and folk theatre scenes.
- Market, food stalls, and roving performances throughout the evening.
- Final concert in Piazza Beniamino Caso: Ars Nova Napoli.
Preview
- Sunday 12 July 2026: Trekking con i Briganti, an excursion along the ancient paths of the Matese with historical narration and folk songs (with Maria Boiano, president of the association, and musician Paolo Petraroli).
Services
- Evening shuttle service active from 24 to 26 July, starting approximately at 7:30 PM, from Piedimonte Matese and Castello del Matese.
Highlights Notti dei Briganti 2026
- XIX Scorribanda: the nineteenth edition of the Matese brigandage re-enactment.
- The roving theatrical performance Per legittima resistenza by the La Giostra degli Alarbi company.
- Three Southern folk music concerts in Piazza Beniamino Caso: Assurd, Rotarossa, and Ars Nova Napoli.
- The Scorribanda dei Briganti with Ritmi Popolari, Alma Antiqua, and Uomo Orchestra.
- Matese cuisine: pecora al cotturo, polenta, tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, local cheeses.
- The Trekking con i Briganti on 12 July, the event's hiking preview.
Prices Notti dei Briganti 2026
Practical information — Notti dei Briganti
How to get there
San Gregorio Matese can be reached by car from Piedimonte Matese by driving up the mountain road towards Lake Matese; the most convenient motorway exits are Caianello (A1) or Benevento via the SS372 Telesina. The reference railway station is Piedimonte Matese-Alife. During the festival evenings, a shuttle service operates from Piedimonte Matese and Castello del Matese, starting approximately at 7:30 PM.
Where and when
Events take place in the historic centre of the village, with the main stage in Piazza Beniamino Caso and the opening at Villa Ginevra. Evenings begin in the late afternoon and continue late into the night.
Tips
- The village is at an altitude of 765 metres: even in July, temperatures drop at night—it is best to bring a sweater.
- The streets of the centre are narrow and steep: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- Parking in the village is limited, so using the shuttle is advisable.
- For accommodation, you can stay in Piedimonte Matese, Castello del Matese, or at facilities around Lake Matese.
Information
Municipality of San Gregorio Matese, Via Ginevra 23 — phone +39 0823 919019 — [email protected]. The detailed programme is published annually on the event's social media channels and the municipal tourism portal.
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