Quindici Carnival — The Quadriglia and the Laccio d'Amore

A Carnival to dance, not just to watch

The Quindici Carnival isn't about floats or confetti; it's about feet, ribbons, and music. In the town of Quindici, nestled in the Vallo di Lauro at the western edge of the Avellino province, Carnival is first and foremost a matter of folk dance. Two traditions intertwine every year in the town squares: the Quadriglia and the Laccio d'Amore, two intangible heritage treasures that the community continues to pass on without interruption.

The Laccio d'Amore: twelve couples, twenty-four ribbons

The Laccio d'Amore, also known as ballintrezzo, is the most spectacular feature of the Vallo di Lauro Carnival. A pole is planted in the center of the square, from which twenty-four colored ribbons hang; twelve couples of dancers grab them and begin to spin, crossing each other according to a precise pattern until they weave the ribbons along the pole, forming geometric designs. The twelve couples represent the months of the year, and the circle of dancers evokes the sun: it is a ritual of ancient origins, linked to propitiatory rites for the fertility of the land and courtship. At the end, the dancers reverse direction and unravel the weave, to the applause of the crowd.

The Quadriglia and its commands

The Quadriglia, which arrived in these lands in the 18th century and was later reworked by local peasant culture, is a couple's dance with collective figures: the star, the bridge, the snake, and the circles. It is directed by the commander, who calls out the steps in a French-influenced dialect still in use today, with formulas like gran discene, al avant, girè, and ballanzè. The dance master wears a formal black suit, while the couples show off peasant-inspired costumes with coordinated colors and fabrics, often passed down within families.

The Quindici Quadriglia

Keeping the tradition alive is the Pro Loco Quindici, which organizes the Quadriglia Quindicese, the association's pride and joy. The groups include ladies and gentlemen of all ages, from three-year-olds to adults, led by historic commanders like Michele Santaniello and Raffaele Cava and new recruits like Noemi Cava and Francesca Santaniello. Rehearsals begin right after Christmas and continue for weeks, involving dozens of local families. Over the years, the Quindici Quadriglia has expanded beyond the borders of the Vallo di Lauro, performing in numerous municipalities in Campania and participating in the great parade of Irpinian Carnivals in the provincial capital, Avellino.

Where and when to dance

The calendar follows the customs of the Vallo di Lauro: the groups perform on Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday along the town streets and in neighboring centers. On the main days, the teams tour the squares of the valley's municipalities — Lauro, Taurano, Pago del Vallo di Lauro, and Moschiano — while on Tuesday, each group returns to perform in its home town, accompanied by musical bands. Performances typically run from the early afternoon until evening, when the lights and colorful ribbons make the dance even more evocative.

The Vallo di Lauro and the Carnivals of Irpinia

The Laccio d'Amore is typical of the Vallo di Lauro and Baianese areas and takes place continuously, especially in Quindici, Taurano, Pago del Vallo di Lauro, and Lauro. The Quindici Carnival is part of the great mosaic of the Carnivals of Irpinia, an initiative that connects dozens of traditions in the province of Avellino every year: the Tarantella of Montemarano, the Zeza, the Mascarata of Serino, the Ballo 'Ndreccio, and the floats of Castelvetere sul Calore and Paternopoli. In Campania, Carnival is almost never a show for tourists: it is a community ritual, and in Quindici, this is plain to see.

Why it's worth the trip

• A rare ritual dance, the Laccio d'Amore, seen in very few Italian towns
• Authentic peasant costumes, often sewn and passed down through families
• Intergenerational participation: children, youth, adults, and seniors in the same group
• Free admission, all outdoors, in the town center
• A non-commercial Carnival, just a few kilometers from Nola and the Vesuvius area