Sussurri al Castello – A Journey Among the Janare

A castle that tells stories again

Perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Sabato River valley, the Medieval Castle of Ceppaloni is the heart of one of the most evocative villages in the province of Benevento. In June 2026, its walls, towers, and courtyard hosted Sussurri al Castello, an experiential journey dedicated to the Janare, born from the "Sussurri di Janare" cultural project by the Immaginaria ETS Association, with the patronage of the Municipality of Ceppaloni and the artistic direction of Giovanni Calicchio, supported by Jenny Capozzi and Antonella Vegliante.

The initiative was announced in December 2025, following the success of the "Come d'Incanto" Christmas markets held in the fortress, and is part of the castle enhancement project launched by the municipal administration.

The Janare, the Walnut Tree of Benevento, and the Stretto di Barba

The central theme is the myth of the Janare, the witches of Sannio tradition, along with the legend of the Walnut Tree of Benevento, around which, according to folklore, the sabbats were held. The festival goes beyond mere folk re-enactment: it chooses a historical and anthropological approach that weaves together archival research, oral memory, and local geography, from the Stretto di Barba to the Sabato Valley and Irpinia.

"Ceppaloni is and remains, in the collective memory of Sannio, the home of witches," recalled Mayor Claudio Cataudo while presenting the project, which aims to transform "popular narrative into cultural experience, suggestion into knowledge, and memory into territorial promotion." Artistic director Giovanni Calicchio spoke of a work that aims to restore historical and cultural dignity to an intangible heritage deeply rooted in Sannio.

The programme of the four nights

The 2026 edition took place over four dates — June 20, 21, 27, and 28 — with the castle opening in the late afternoon (at 5:13 PM during the first nights, postponed to early evening on the final weekend due to the heat) and activities continuing until nightfall. The courtyard hosted theatrical performances, which were repeated to allow everyone to attend:

• The Janare Hunter, at 6:00 PM
• Whispers of the Janare, at 6:30 PM, inspired by the sabbat that legend says took place at the Stretto di Barba
• The Ancient Village of Altavilla, at 7:10 PM, with choreography by Tiziana Zollo
• repetition of all shows starting at 7:20 PM
• live music in the castle courtyard to close the evening

Actors, dancers, music, and visual effects built a journey in multiple narrative tableaux, designed for a wide audience.

Immersive rooms, tarology, and author meetings

On the upper floors of the fortress, the public walked through an immersive path made of thematic environments, multimedia installations, video projections, sets, and historical testimonies: from the Torture Room to the Whispers Room, reserved for meetings with authors and researchers. The offerings also included sessions of evolutionary tarology, presented as a tool for introspection rather than divination.

A space was dedicated to The Last Janara, the novel by Pasquale Rosati, who was present at the castle for all the evenings, along with the Janare Tarot cards and objects inspired by Sannio folklore.

Flavours of Sannio and craftsmanship

Food is an integral part of the experience: two menus were offered in the courtyard, one medieval and one dedicated to the Janare, while outside the walls, a street food area expanded the offer with local dishes and products. Numerous artisans were present, with significant female participation, alongside workshops, a market, book presentations, and Campanian folk music groups.

Witches at the Wheel

On June 27, the castle also hosted the fifteenth edition of "Le Streghe al Volante", a vintage car rally curated by the Automotoclub Storico Antico Sannio.

Ceppaloni, the village and its fortress

A municipality in the province of Benevento, in Campania, Ceppaloni preserves a medieval layout of alleys and views dominated by the Norman-founded castle, built in the second half of the 11th century and destroyed and rebuilt several times during the wars between the Papacy and the Empire: Alfonso V of Aragon stayed there in 1437. Today, the fortress is municipal property and is the hub of an enhancement project that, with Sussurri al Castello, has found its summer showcase.