Pollica Carnival (Pollichese Carnival and Carnival in the Square)

A widespread carnival in the heart of Cilento

In the Municipality of Pollica, in the province of Salerno, Carnival is not just a single event but a small circuit of festivities that spans the entire municipal area. The Pollichese Carnival encompasses four days dedicated to masks, colors, and entertainment that rotate through the town's hamlets, while the Carnival in the Square on Shrove Tuesday concludes the celebrations in the historic center of Pollica. It is one of the most cherished winter events in this corner of Campania, bringing families, children, and local associations together during a time of year when Cilento is far from the summer tourist crowds.

Four days across the hamlets

The first part of the festival is intentionally decentralized: afternoon entertainment moves from village to village, rotating through Pioppi, Pollica (the main town), Celso, Galdo, and Acciaroli. Each afternoon, a different village becomes the stage for the carnival, with music, confetti, and games along the streets.

• Masked parties open to everyone, with no registration or tickets required
• Afternoon entertainment guaranteed for adults and children
• A different location each day, in collaboration with local associations
• A village carnival where costumes are often homemade

This itinerant formula is the most original feature of the Pollichese Carnival: the festival moves around, highlighting each of the hamlets, including the smaller hillside ones.

The Shrove Tuesday Carnival in the Square

The grand finale is hosted by the Pro Loco Pollica in partnership with local associations. On Shrove Tuesday afternoon, the historic square becomes the beating heart of the festival: the masked parade officially kicks off the celebrations, followed by a community snack and a series of games for children. This is followed by the best costume award, a highly anticipated moment that celebrates the creativity and effort of participants, who often spend weeks working on their outfits.

In the evening, the party moves inside the Castello dei Principi Capano, where a free-entry DJ set invites the public to enjoy a night of music and conviviality.

The Castello dei Principi Capano, the festival's backdrop

The palace of the Capano princes, which preserves a massive medieval tower, dominates the village of Pollica from above and is now owned by the municipality. Hosting the final night of the Carnival here means returning a symbolic landmark to the community: the castle halls, which host visits and cultural initiatives in the summer, are transformed for one night into a popular ballroom, with free entry for all.

Pollica, between Monte Stella and the Cilento sea

Pollica sits at an altitude of about 370 meters on the southern slopes of Monte Stella, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The municipal territory descends to the sea with the two seaside towns of Acciaroli and Pioppi, both awarded the European Blue Flag and inextricably linked to the history of the Mediterranean diet, which was studied in Pioppi and is now showcased at the Living Sea Museum in Palazzo Vinciprova. Participating in the Carnival here also means discovering an off-season Cilento, made of quiet villages, olive groves, and winter seas, when towns return to their own rhythms and festivals are enjoyed primarily by the residents.

A festival for families

• Free entry to all events, including the parade and the evening at the castle
• Games and entertainment for children, with a community snack in the afternoon
• Best costume award, open to individual and group costumes
• Multiple locations involved, to experience the carnival in different towns and on different days
• Music and DJ sets in the setting of the Castello dei Principi Capano

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Pollica in collaboration with local associations and the Municipality of Pollica. It is a collective effort by volunteers who set up the decorations, entertainment, and logistics every year: the reason why the Pollichese Carnival has become a staple of the Cilento winter calendar.