Palma Campania Carnival

The Carnival of the Quadriglie

The Palma Campania Carnival, also known as the Palmese Carnival, is the signature event of the town of Palma Campania, located in the Vesuvius area of the province of Naples. Its uniqueness is immediately apparent: instead of papier-mâché floats, troupes of costumed men and women—the Quadriglie—turn the town's streets and squares into one massive urban stage. As the organizers often repeat, in Palma, the protagonist is not a float, but the person who replaces it with their own body, voice, and costume.

A tradition documented since 1858

The first written records of the festival date back to 1858, when a citizen reported the noise of masked groups roaming the streets to the bishop: paradoxically, this complaint marks the documented origin of the Palmese Carnival. The roots of the Quadriglie, however, go back to the early 19th century, with the tradition passed down through generations of local families. Today, the event is coordinated by the Palma Campania Carnival Foundation in collaboration with the municipal administration.

The nine historic Quadriglie

The heart of the festival lies in the nine Quadriglie, each consisting of nearly two hundred participants including musicians, dancers, and masked performers, totaling over two thousand protagonists:

• I MoNellì
• Teglanum
• Scugnizzi
• Gruppo Storico Studenti
• Scusate il Ritardo
• I Gaudenti
• Amici di Pozzoromolo
• 'A Livella
• Tutta n'ata Storia

Each Quadriglia chooses a theme, develops it into a script, a soundtrack, and a set design, and entrusts it to the Maestro di Quadriglia, the figure who leads the entire company and whose handover is a true ritual.

Stages of the Palmese Carnival

• Canzone d'occasione: The Quadriglie present the song written for the edition to the public, announcing the company's theme, characters, and style.
• Ratto del Gagliardetto: The symbolic handover between the outgoing Maestro and their successor, followed by a procession through the main streets to Piazza De Martino.
• Quadriglie Parade: Two evenings where the groups traverse the town center in their official costumes.
• Messinscena: The presentation on the central stage, featuring lights, live music, and choreography.
• Passo: The evening parade through the town streets without official costumes.
• Shrove Tuesday of the Canzonieri: The highlight of the festival, with the Quadriglie performing in rotation at various locations throughout the town center.
• Award Ceremony: The presentation of the Gonfalone to the winning Quadriglia and recognition for direction, soundtrack, set design, and tailoring.

Tailoring, music, and craftsmanship

In Palma Campania, everything is handcrafted. Costumes are hand-stitched by local tailors in the months leading up to the carnival, while music is performed live using traditional Neapolitan instruments—putipù, triccheballacche, scetavajasse, drums, and wind instruments—without any recorded backing tracks. The result is a spectacle that blends folk theater, dance, satire, and textile art, which continues to live on after the festival in the garments preserved and displayed in the museum dedicated to the event.

An accessible and inclusive carnival

In recent years, the Foundation has complemented tradition with a series of social initiatives. Performances on the main stage are translated into Italian Sign Language (LIS), while the Carnevale a domicilio project brings delegations of the Quadriglie to pediatric wards in hospitals across Campania, sharing costumes and music with hospitalized children. In 2026, the Carnevale in Sospeso formula was introduced, inspired by the Neapolitan "suspended coffee": those who can afford it donate a seat in the stands to those who cannot, such as the elderly or those returning to their hometown from afar.

Palma Campania and the Vesuvius territory

With just over sixteen thousand inhabitants, Palma Campania is located halfway between Nola and the Vesuvius area of the Metropolitan City of Naples, in an agricultural region known for its hazelnut groves and vineyards. During the carnival, the town fills with visitors from across Campania and the local diaspora: the stands in front of the central stage fill up by the afternoon, while the streets remain open and accessible for those who prefer to follow the Quadriglie up close. It is one of the most well-attended carnivals in Southern Italy.