Return to the Middle Ages

Two days in the Middle Ages in the heart of Irpinia

Every year, between late summer and early autumn, the historic center of Cassano Irpino — a small town in the province of Avellino, in Campania — sets aside the present to return to the 13th century. Return to the Middle Ages is one of the longest-running historical re-enactments in Irpinia: in 2026, it reaches its twentieth edition, continuing to draw thousands of visitors through the stone alleys of the village.

For two days, the town's streets are filled with taverns, merchants, artisans, wandering musicians, jesters, fire-eaters, and flag-wavers. The houses of the old town are decorated with fabrics, banners, and lanterns, while the inhabitants don period costumes and become the protagonists of the re-enactment themselves: there is no audience watching a show, but an entire village transforming.

The history: Gubitosa De Aquino and the war of the waters

The event is not just a costume party: it stages a true story deeply tied to the town's identity. Cassano Irpino is known as the Borgo delle Sorgenti (Village of Springs), the 'land of waters' of Irpinia, with famous springs like the Acqua del Prete, the Bagno della Regina Pollentina, and the Peschiera: springs that still supply much of Campania and Puglia today.

In the Swabian era, the fief of Cassano was granted by Frederick II to Tommaso I d'Aquino, Count of Acerra; in 1293, possession passed to the noblewoman Gubitosa De Aquino. A few years later, on March 23, 1297, a controversy erupted with the Bishop of Nusco, who had diverted the waters of the Calore river to power his own mills and fulling mills. Gubitosa stubbornly defended the feudal rights of her village — according to tradition, ordering her men to destroy by night what was built by day on the riverbanks — until the trial before the royal court of Philip of Anjou, Prince of Taranto, who stripped the D'Aquino family of the fief and returned Cassano to the Angevin Royal Domain.

It is this woman who defended her land and her water who is celebrated every year with the historical pageant and the evening shows dedicated to her.

What to see during the event

The program varies from year to year, but the structure is well-established, divided into three paths that coexist throughout the village:

• Historical-cultural path — visits to the springs, guided tours of the medieval village center and the castle, and insights into the history of Gubitosa De Aquino and the water dispute.
• Artistic path — historical pageants and costume parades, medieval music groups, falconry displays, jugglers and street performers, military encampments, craft demonstrations, and an exhibition of torture devices.
• Gastronomic path — taverns and stands featuring medieval recipes reinterpreted with an Irpinian twist and traditional local dishes.

There are also activities designed for children: treasure hunts in the village, themed workshops, and medieval games make the event particularly suitable for families, especially on Sunday.

The castle fire

The most anticipated moment is the closing: the assault and fire of the castle, a nocturnal show of fire, lights, and historical narration that usually takes place late in the evening, drawing the entire crowd to the square below the fortress. It is the iconic image of Return to the Middle Ages and the postcard that circulates every year on social media and in the Irpinian press.

Medieval flavors and Irpinian products

The taverns set up along the alleys offer dishes inspired by medieval cuisine alongside typical Irpinian products: chestnuts and hazelnuts from the forests of the Upper Calore Valley, cheeses, cured meats, grilled meats, traditional peasant desserts, and the great wines of the province of Avellino, from Taurasi to Fiano and Greco. The style is that of the Irpinian villages: you eat standing up or at stone tables, moving from one tavern to another.

Organizers

The event is organized by the Pro Loco 'Forum Felix' APS of Cassano Irpino, with the patronage of the Municipality, and involves dozens of volunteers, re-enactors, and groups from all over Campania. In recent years, the event has also been included as a stop on the Irpinia Express historic train, which brings visitors to the village along the Avellino-Rocchetta Sant'Antonio line.