Santa Paolina Bobbin Lace Exhibition

The Irpinian village of 'pizzillo'

In Santa Paolina, a small town in the province of Avellino nestled at an altitude of about 550 meters in the heart of Irpinia, Campania, bobbin lace is not just a museum relic: it is a living craft, passed down from home to home and known in the local dialect as pizzillo. The Santa Paolina Bobbin Lace Exhibition is the moment when this knowledge leaves the homes and is presented to the public in Piazza Fontana, under the direction of the Pro Loco of Santa Paolina.

It is neither a commercial fair nor a food festival: it is a sober and curated exhibition where every piece tells a story of hours of work and expert hands. The true soundtrack is the rhythmic ticking of the wooden bobbins crossing on the cushion.

What to see at the exhibition

The exhibition features the most representative works of the local tradition, placing historical pieces alongside recent productions:

• The Grape Leaf Blanket — the most famous piece in the Paolina repertoire, a highly complex work requiring a very large number of bobbins.
• The Fishbone — a refined and rare motif, considered along with the grape leaf to be the technical signature of Santa Paolina.
• The creations of the Pizzillare — the local lace makers who, for generations, have supplemented their family income with bobbin lace work.
• Works by the students of the Bobbin Lace School of the Pro Loco, concrete evidence of a tradition that continues.
• Contemporary reinterpretations proposed by invited artists and artisans, who reinterpret lace with modern languages.

The 2026 edition

The 2026 edition took place on Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th in Piazza Fontana, attracting numerous visitors and enthusiasts. Artists Rachele Branca, Gerardo Iacobacci, Michele Marena, Antonio Spagnuolo, and Gennaro Vallifuoco exhibited their works, offering an evocative reinterpretation of Paolina lace, the Grape Leaf Blanket, the Fishbone, and the works of the Pizzillare and the Bobbin Lace School.

Before the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Rino Ricciardelli invited those present to observe a minute of silence in solidarity with the Venezuelan people: a moment of reflection deeply felt and shared by the entire community.

The Pro Loco Bobbin Lace School

The exhibition is a showcase for work that lasts all year round. The Pro Loco established its own bobbin lace school in July 1993, starting with basic techniques; since 1996, courses have expanded to include both modern and ancient styles, with direct instruction on the grape leaf and fishbone patterns provided by the local masters. In the 2026 calendar of Irpinian Pro Loco associations, the initiative is listed as 'Bobbin Lace School and Exhibition and Theatrical Events' and covers a long period, from April 30th to September 30th: the June exhibition is its most visible moment.

An art documented since 1689

Oral tradition attributes the introduction of lace to the nuns of the monastery of Santa Caterina da Siena in Montefusco, a neighboring town with which Santa Paolina shares this vocation. However, the oldest documentation dates back to 1689, when an inventory of the Confraternity of the Rosary of Santa Paolina mentions linen cloths adorned with pizzillo among the altar furnishings.

The work is performed on a padded cushion—the bobbin itself—resting on a wooden stand called a scannetto, using pins, thread (formerly linen, today more often cotton), a perforated pattern, and wooden bobbins, known in the dialect as tommarielli. The number of bobbins varies with the complexity: from just over a dozen for simple works to over two hundred for the most elaborate designs like the grape leaf.

Bobbin lace and Greco di Tufo: the town's dual identity

Santa Paolina is not just the village of lace: it is part of the Greco di Tufo DOCG area and is linked to the 'Città del Vino' (Wine Cities) circuit. The two excellences—the lace and the Irpinian white wine—are often told together in a project promoted in the area to enhance both local craftsmanship and wine culture.

Why it's worth the trip

It is an event perfectly scaled to the village: it can be visited in an hour, but leaves time to talk to the lace makers and discover a town just over twenty kilometers from Avellino. Ideal to combine with a tasting of Greco di Tufo.