Medioevo a la Rocca

A historical re-enactment in the heart of Alta Irpinia

Medioevo a la Rocca is the event that has defined Rocca San Felice—a small town in the Alta Irpinia area of the province of Avellino, in the Campania region—since the 1990s. Established in the mid-nineties by the local community and now organized by the Pro Loco Ansanto in collaboration with the Youth Forum, the re-enactment has surpassed twenty-five editions and is officially listed in the Ministry of Culture's national register of historical re-enactments.

The village provides a natural stage: an ancient core clustered around the fortress, with stone houses, arches, stairways, and alleys winding up toward the castle. During the event, every facade is adorned with drapes, banners, and insignias; electric lights give way to torches and candles, and the historic center transforms into a large living history set, following the philological accuracy criteria adopted by Italian re-enactments.

Workshops, taverns, and medieval trades

The heart of the festival is the reconstruction of daily life in the village during the Middle Ages. Along the route, you will encounter artisans working with iron, wood, stone, copper, and leather, as well as the lazaretto, scenes of religious and popular rituals, and the military camp featuring barracks life and armed combat.

• Gilda mercatorum: the medieval market featuring spices, herbs, fabrics, and strictly pre-Columbian products
• Taverns and workshops open in the cellars and courtyards of the village
• Ladies, knights, and commoners in period costumes bringing the alleys and squares to life
• Encampment with demonstrations of weaponry and military life

Jesters, fire-eaters, and birds of prey

The evening program alternates between roving performances and scheduled events in the main squares: jesters, minstrels, stilt walkers, acrobats, dancers, and fire troupes move through the alleys, while concerts of medieval and folk music take place in the square. The castle plateau traditionally hosts falconry displays, with birds of prey soaring over the village and the valley, and grand pyromusical shows that close the evenings.

The medieval banquet

One of the most anticipated events is the costumed banquet, served in the village squares with dishes reconstructed from period sources: spelt and legume soup, stewed wild boar, dried fruit, and drinks such as hippocras and mead. It is the moment when the re-enactment becomes a direct experience, with the public seated at long tables alongside the performers.

The village, the castle, and the Mefite

Rocca San Felice is more than just a backdrop. The town preserves the remains of the castle that overlooks the settlement and is located just a short distance from the Valle d'Ansanto, home to the Mefite—a sulfurous lake of volcanic origin linked to the cult of the ancient Italic goddess and mentioned in classical sources. During the event, cultural walks between the village and the Mefite are offered with expert guides, along with forest hikes and side activities such as the chess tournament in the Di Caprio courtyard.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally held on the penultimate weekend of August and lasts four days, from Thursday to Sunday. The 2025 edition, the twenty-eighth, took place from August 21 to 24. For the 2026 edition, the Pro Loco Ansanto has not yet released the official calendar: dates are usually announced in the weeks leading up to the event on the association's social media channels.