Pianesi in Maschera

Pianesi in Maschera, the neighborhood Carnival of Cava de' Tirreni

Some festivals don't need giant allegorical floats to celebrate Carnival. Pianesi in Maschera is one of them: for over thirty years, in the Pianesi district of Cava de' Tirreni, in the province of Salerno, a winter afternoon transforms into a sea of confetti, homemade costumes, and loud music. It is a children's Carnival, built by the community for the community, which is precisely why it has become one of the most anticipated events of the local Carnival season.

From neighborhood party to city tradition

The event was born in Pianesi, one of the historic villages dotting the vast territory of the Municipality of Cava de' Tirreni, through the initiative of the San Gaetano ai Pianesi Socio-Cultural Sports Association. For many editions, it took place in the courtyard of the local primary school, with neighborhood families busy preparing decorations and entertainment. After a three-year break, the 2023 comeback marked a turning point: over five hundred attendees and two hundred and fifty children in costume, with participants arriving from neighboring towns as well. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, eventually requiring a much larger venue.

An afternoon designed for families

The format is simple and proven. In the early afternoon, the venue fills with children in costume accompanied by parents and grandparents; then the entertainment, music, group games, and surprise guests begin. There is no competitive parade or award ceremony: the stated goal is to bring the neighborhood and the city together for an afternoon of shared joy, without age or budget barriers.

• Masks and free costumes, with no mandatory theme
• Entertainment and shows designed for the little ones
• Music and group dances
• Free admission, no booking required

Who is behind the festival

The organization remains firmly in the hands of the San Gaetano ai Pianesi Association, chaired by Giovanni Senatore, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cava de' Tirreni and the technical-organizational collaboration of the CSI – Italian Sports Center, Cava de' Tirreni committee, which has always been committed to promoting educational, sports, and social values in the area. Every edition also carries the memory of Carmine Medolla, one of the founders of the event, whose legacy is cited by the organizers as the root of the initiative.

Cava de' Tirreni and the Carnival in Campania

Cava de' Tirreni, the "Metellian city," stretches across a green valley between Salerno and the Amalfi Coast, in Campania. It is a municipality made up of hamlets and villages — the so-called «casali» — each with its own identity and festivals: this scattered geography explains why a neighborhood Carnival can become an event recognized by the entire city. In a region where Carnival is often a public spectacle and a parade of floats, Pianesi in Maschera represents the other side of tradition: the domestic, associative, and intergenerational one, where participation counts more than scenery.

Who it is recommended for

It is a perfect festival for families with preschool and elementary school children, for those visiting the Metellian Valley during the Carnival period, and for those looking for an authentic experience far from the major tourist circuits. Being an indoor event, it takes place regularly even in case of bad weather, a non-secondary detail on February Sundays. Those arriving from out of town can combine the afternoon of the festival with a walk along the historic arcaded center of Cava de' Tirreni, just a few minutes' drive from the event venue.