StraRocchese – "Picoco, Ottaviano, De Gennaro" Memorial

Roccarainola's Walk of Remembrance

The StraRocchese – "Picoco, Ottaviano, De Gennaro" Memorial is the most anticipated sporting and community event in the Municipality of Roccarainola, a town of nearly seven thousand residents in the Nola area, province of Naples, Campania. Promoted by the municipal administration alongside a dense network of local associations, the event blends physical activity with the discovery of local hamlets, sanctuaries, and flavors, all tied together by a constant theme: honoring those who served the State.

Who were Picoco, Ottaviano, and De Gennaro?

The memorial is dedicated to Attilio Picoco, Vincenzo Ottaviano, and Benigno De Gennaro, who were struck by a car on July 20, 2018, while conducting surveys at a road accident scene along the Asse Mediano. Ottaviano, a Carabiniere, and De Gennaro, a security guard, died instantly; Picoco passed away on July 31 following days of hospitalization. From that tragedy, the Roccarainola community resolved to transform their grief into an annual event of sport, civic memory, and participation, extending to the neighboring towns of Lauro and Quadrelle. The town's sports field is named after Carabiniere Ottaviano.

From road race to eco-walk

Until 2025, the StraRocchese was run as a 10-kilometer road race, included in the FIDAL calendar and organized with ASD Morelli e Silvati APS and Cicciano Running. Finishers received a commemorative medal depicting the Sanctuary of Sant'Agnello Abate in Gargani, built between 1905 and 1914. In 2026, the format changed significantly, and the StraRocchese became an inclusive, non-competitive 5-kilometer eco-walk, designed for families, school groups, and walkers of all ages. The change was a success: the registration cap, initially set at 500, was raised to 1,000, and the fifth edition recorded 1,058 participants.

The route through the hamlets

The trail starts in Piazza San Giovanni, the heart of the town, and touches the hamlets that make up the municipal territory one by one:

• Gargani, with Piazza Sant'Agnello and the sanctuary dedicated to Sant'Agnello Abate;
• Sasso, home to the San Silvestro parish and the commemorative ceremony;
• Rione Fellino, with Piazza Europa and the Madonna del Carmelo church;
• final return to Piazza San Giovanni, where the morning concludes with a celebration.

Gastronomic stops and community moments

Each stop is more than just a refreshment point: it is an opportunity to showcase the events that define the Roccarainola calendar. Along the route, participants enjoy tastings of local products, musical performances, street artists, demonstrations by the Carabinieri canine units, and guided church tours. Children who complete the route receive a commemorative medal, while the arrival in the square is accompanied by a vintage car and motorcycle rally and the traditional pasta party.

A collective effort

The StraRocchese is made possible by the collaboration of over fifteen associations: Pro Loco Roccarainola and UNPLI, local schools starting with the "San Giovanni" I.C.S., cycling groups Bikers On The Road and I Masanielli, the CAI, the Local Police, the Civil Protection, and the Carabinieri. The creator and main driving force behind the initiative is city councilor Orlando De Luca. The sporting aspect has always been accompanied by awareness-raising activities, such as free medical check-ups and initiatives dedicated to the inclusion of autistic individuals.

Roccarainola, between Partenio and Nola

Nestled at the foot of the mountains that close the Nola plain to the north, Roccarainola is a gateway to the State Forest and an hinterland of trails, chestnut groves, and cherry orchards: cherries are the signature product of the Sasso hamlet, celebrated annually at the Cherry Festival. Visitors arriving for the walk will find the Castle of Avella and the villages of the Baianese area just a few kilometers away, while the archaeological area of Nola and Mount Vesuvius remain within easy reach. The StraRocchese is therefore a simple way to discover a part of Campania less traveled by mass tourism, where civic memory and popular tradition literally walk together.