TEDxSan Nicola la Strada

The TEDx of the Terra di Lavoro

TEDxSan Nicola la Strada is the ideas event that, since 2025, has brought the independent format inspired by TED conferences to the municipality of San Nicola la Strada, in the province of Caserta. The event is built around a simple principle: giving those with something to say a few minutes on stage, without technical jargon or endless presentations, to share research, a craft, or a life experience. In a corner of Campania often defined only by its challenges, the initiative has chosen to highlight voices from business, science, journalism, sports, and culture, many of which are deeply rooted in the Caserta territory.

From the Salone Borbonico to the Regie Cavallerizze

The first edition took place on May 17, 2025, in the Salone Borbonico of Piazza Municipio, in the heart of San Nicola la Strada, under the patronage of the Municipality. The chosen theme, «NEXUS – The human element in the artificial world», focused on what remains specifically human in an era dominated by algorithms: a morning featuring seven speakers, a musical performance, and a video project, explicitly dedicated to students.

In 2026, the event scaled up. The second edition was held on May 9 at the Regie Cavallerizze of the Royal Palace of Caserta, in the spaces hosted by the Consortium for the Protection of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP: a monumental setting, just minutes from the center of San Nicola la Strada, which allowed for a larger audience and regional visibility. Tickets sold out before the event date, with organizers announcing a full house.

«(EXTRA)Ordinary», the theme of the 2026 edition

The guiding thread of the second edition was «(EXTRA)Ordinary – When the ordinary becomes wonder»: an invitation to recognize the extraordinary power of daily gestures and common people who, without fanfare, manage to make a difference. Ten talks covered psychology, journalism, aerospace engineering, Olympic sports, European politics, comedy, and sustainability, alternating very different registers but held together by the idea that wonder is not elsewhere: it can be cultivated here, now, in the province.

A community project

Behind the event is a group of fifteen people coordinated by organizer Luca Ioime and co-organizer Maria Pia Zampella, supported by local sponsors and partners. The format also includes a civic and charitable dimension: in 2026, the edition awarded the Extra Ordinary Award to Ciro De Maio, coordinator of the Civil Protection of San Nicola la Strada, and directed its support to the third-sector organization Nuovo Agire. It is a feature that says much about the event: not just a showcase of ideas, but an attempt to give back to the municipality that saw its birth.

What to expect in the hall

• Short talks: concise presentations, built on a single idea, in the tradition of the TED format.
• Diverse speakers: established professionals alongside emerging voices from the Caserta area.
• Artistic performances: music, dance, or video art to break up the rhythm of the talks.
• Networking moments: breaks designed for the public, speakers, and organizers to meet.
• Limited seating: capacity is limited and registration closes early.

San Nicola la Strada, the Royal Palace, and the context

San Nicola la Strada is a municipality in the urban belt of Caserta, in Campania, practically joined to the provincial capital and overlooking the Vanvitellian complex of the Royal Palace of Caserta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This proximity explains the trajectory of the event: an initiative born in a municipal hall capable, within a year, of engaging with one of the symbolic sites of Southern Italy. For those visiting the province of Caserta, attending the local TEDx is also a way to observe up close how a community tells its own story, far from stereotypes.

How to follow upcoming editions

Information on dates, themes, and registration openings is published on the official event website, the dedicated TED page, and the team's Instagram profile. Since access is limited and previous editions have sold out, it is advisable to monitor official channels a few weeks before the announced date.