Marcialonga of Piana di Monte Verna

A walk that has become the village's identity

For twenty years, the Marcialonga of Piana di Monte Verna has been the event the village looks forward to most. It is neither a competitive race nor a test for trained athletes: it is a popular walk that every year, at the end of June, gathers entire families, groups of friends, children in new sneakers, and locals who have been walking this route since the event's inception in Piazza XXI Maggio. Organized by the Pro Loco Pianese, the Marcialonga has grown to become one of the symbols of community life in this municipality in the province of Caserta, in Campania.

The route: 11 kilometers to Villa Santa Croce

The course measures 11 kilometers and connects the town center of Piana di Monte Verna to the hillside hamlet of Villa Santa Croce. It starts early in the morning, when the air is still fresh, and climbs slowly, leaving the plains behind to gain altitude toward the village. The pace is that of the group: no stopwatch urges the participants on; people walk together, stop, and start again. At the finish line, there is no white tape, but a long table: a shared lunch featuring traditional local dishes, with the soffritto as the star, prepared by the volunteers.

The 20th edition and the municipality's fiftieth anniversary

The 2026 edition marked a double milestone: the twentieth anniversary of the Marcialonga and the 50th anniversary of Piana di Monte Verna, celebrated with a full calendar of summer events. For the occasion, the Pro Loco set up an exhibition with all the cups, trophies, and historical photographs accumulated over two decades, and produced a documentary video featuring testimonies from the founders and early participants: according to local reports, it was the most moving moment of the entire weekend. The village children were entrusted with choosing the event's mascot, which they designed themselves.

Flavors, music, and an open square

The Marcialonga does not end with the walk. On the Saturday preceding it, the square transforms into an open-air living room: food stalls open, live music plays, and the exhibition is on display. It is the same formula the Pro Loco Pianese applies to its other events, from the Carnevale Pianese to the Festa della Pizzonta, and here it finds its most participatory expression. The awards ceremony on Sunday follows a strictly local tradition: prizes are given to the top finishers, but also to the last one to arrive and the youngest participant, because the meaning of the day is to finish, not to win.

Piana di Monte Verna, a territory to be discovered on foot

Walking up there is also the best way to understand this corner of Alto Casertano. The municipal territory houses a Roman-era cistern, the church of Sant'Angiolillo, the Sanctuary of the Immaculate, the Benedictine monastery, and the Casina Borbonica di Fagianeria, evidence of a long and layered history that coexists with fields, olive groves, and hills. The Pro Loco promotes this heritage through cultural trekking and guided tours throughout the year.

Who it is for

• Families: the route is accessible to those who walk regularly, and many children participate.
• Walkers and hiking enthusiasts: 11 km in a hilly environment, with an early morning start.
• Curious about popular traditions: the Marcialonga is an excellent vantage point for observing the community life of a small Campanian town.
• Foodies: the final lunch and the stalls showcase the peasant cuisine of the Caserta hinterland.

As Mayor Stefano Lombardi recalled, "The Marcialonga is not just an event: it is a collective story that continues to walk with us" — a bridge between generations that, every June, gets the whole village moving again.