Rotondi Carnival (Zeza and Quadriglia)

A historic carnival in the heart of the Caudina Valley

In Rotondi, a town of just over three thousand inhabitants in the province of Avellino, the Carnival is not just a festive break but a piece of collective identity. During the days leading up to Lent, this town in the Caudina Valley — the natural corridor connecting Irpinia to Sannio and the Neapolitan area — gathers in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele around two ancient rites: the Quadriglia and the Zeza. The Rotondi carnival is officially listed among the 104 historical carnivals of the Campania Region, a recognition that places this local festival within the regional intangible heritage alongside the most prominent events in Campania.

The Zeza: Pulcinella's folk theatre

The Zeza is a sung farce of Neapolitan origin, dating back to the mid-17th century, which has taken root in dozens of towns across Irpinia. The narrative core is always the same: the farcical marriage of the daughter of Pulcinella and his wife Zeza, contested by suitors amidst cross-dressing, double entendres, and slapstick comedy. It is a raw and powerful form of street theatre, featuring verses in dialect, male actors playing female roles, and a finale that inevitably breaks into dance.

The Quadriglia: the town's figure dance

If the Zeza is about words and acting, the Quadriglia is about geometry and movement. Groups of couples in traditional costumes perform collective choreographies marked by specific figures and commands, guided by the rhythm of accordions and folk instruments. In Rotondi, this tradition is passed down from generation to generation: alongside the adult dancers of the Rotondi Zeza and Quadriglia Folk Group, youth and children's quadrilles have been training for years to ensure the repertoire is preserved. It is this passing of the torch, even more than the spectacle itself, that explains why the festival has survived.

Two days of celebration in the square

The calendar follows the shifting rhythm of the Carnival: Sunday and Shrove Tuesday are the two pillars of the festival. In the afternoon, the square fills up as guest groups from neighboring Caudina Valley towns — such as Cervinara, San Martino Valle Caudina, and Paolisi — arrive with their own quadrilles and the 'ndrezzata, continuing until evening with performances, masks, and music. The formula is that of a collective celebration: no stage separated from the audience, but a circle of spectators surrounding the dancers, often joining in the dance themselves.

What to expect

• Free open-air performances in the town centre, suitable for families with children.
• The Zeza, performed and sung in dialect, featuring Pulcinella and traditional masks.
• Quadrilles in traditional costume, performed by both adult and youth groups.
• Participation of guest folk groups from the surrounding towns of Irpinia and Sannio.
• A local atmosphere with stalls and traditional Carnival sweets prepared by families and local associations.

The context: the carnivals of Irpinia

Rotondi belongs to a constellation of carnival rites that make the province of Avellino one of the richest territories in the South: from the Zeze of Bellizzi Irpino, Mercogliano, Cesinali, Avella, and Montemiletto to the ballo 'ntreccio of Montemarano, and the carnivals of Cervinara and Serino. Visitors to Irpinia during Carnival can create a true itinerary from town to town, as the dates align and groups exchange visits. The Campania Region has included many of these events in its inventory of intangible cultural heritage, recognizing their anthropological value alongside their spectacular nature.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who come to Rotondi will not find monumental allegorical floats or large-scale productions: they will find something rarer, a community that continues to represent itself with the same verses and steps used generations ago. It is the carnival in its most ancient form — a celebration of subversion and shared joy — in a village of the Caudina Valley that is also worth a visit for the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella and the local Irpinian festive cuisine.