Medievalia - In the Footsteps of the Angel

A cultural pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Archangel

Medievalia - In the Footsteps of the Angel is neither a food festival nor a simple trek: it is a historical and cultural walk that retraces, at sunset, the ancient route of pilgrims heading to the cave of Saint Michael the Archangel, a rock-cut sanctuary nestled in the rocky ridge between Raviscanina and Sant'Angelo d'Alife, in the heart of the Caserta Matese. The group sets off from the town center and climbs toward the cave, alternating walking with storytelling stops: historians and performers in period costumes read and enact medieval literary sources that recount the apparitions and the cult of the Angel.

The cave of Saint Michael, a rock-cut sanctuary of the Matese

The setting for this event is one of the most evocative in the entire province of Caserta. The cave, inhabited since prehistoric times, became a sanctuary dedicated to Archangel Michael during the Lombard era: inside, it preserves the rock church, the tabernacle, niches, and remnants of frescoes from that period, while an 18th-century chapel stands outside. The Michaelic devotion, brought to Southern Italy by the Lombards and radiated from the great sanctuary of the Gargano, left a network of cave-sanctuaries along the Apennines, of which the Raviscanina site is a particularly well-preserved example. Walking up there at sunset, while listening to ancient music, is an experience that is worth the journey in itself.

Storytelling, workshops, and concerts

Upon reaching the cave, participants attend a lecture on rock-cut Michaelic worship and an educational workshop titled «Miraculous Remedies of Nature», dedicated to medicinal herbs and the preparations used in the Middle Ages to treat wounds and illnesses. The highlight, however, is the concert «Pilgrimage Songs in Honor of the Angel», performed by the vocal and instrumental group Ave Gratia Plena in costume, using replicas of ancient instruments: the voices and strings resonate within the natural acoustics of the cave as the light fades over the Volturno valley. The return journey is made on foot, with final storytelling sessions along the path.

Medievalia, a «traveling chair of the Middle Ages»

The Raviscanina event is one of the stops of Medievalia, a traveling festival conceived as a true traveling chair of the Middle Ages: material culture, history, art, and music are told directly in the places that produced them, without classroom mediation. The festival is organized by the «Francesco Durante» Cultural Association of Caserta together with the «Ave Gratia Plena» Cultural Association of Limatola, and every year it visits multiple sites between Terra di Lavoro and Sannio: museums, castles, abbeys, and rock-cut sanctuaries. The Raviscanina stage takes place with the logistical collaboration of the «Raviscanina Borgo A Colori ODV» association and the moral patronage of the Municipalities of Raviscanina and Sant'Angelo d'Alife.

Raviscanina and the Upper Caserta area

The Municipality of Raviscanina, in the province of Caserta, is located in the northern part of Campania, at the foot of the Matese massif and a short distance from Alife and Piedimonte Matese. It is a village of a few hundred inhabitants dominated by the ruins of a medieval castle, with a heritage that includes, in addition to the Michaelic cave, ancient churches and scenic trails overlooking the Volturno plain. Those attending the event can easily extend their visit to nearby Sant'Angelo d'Alife, the amphitheater and walls of Alife, or the springs and lakes of the Matese Regional Park.

An event for hikers and families

The formula is popular because it combines elements that usually travel separately: light hiking, serious historical dissemination, live ancient music, and the spirituality of the locations. The route is of medium difficulty and suitable for children accustomed to walking, but requires minimal hiking gear. Places are limited and registration is mandatory: those wishing to participate should book a few days in advance, as availability runs out quickly.

• Where: Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel, Raviscanina (CE), Campania
• When: In the afternoon/evening, concluding after sunset
• Cost: Free participation, registration mandatory
• Route: Approx. 3.5 km, elevation gain of approx. 150 meters