The Awakening of the Village and the Orsini Procession

The summer solstice in Pago del Vallo di Lauro

On the longest day of the year, the historic center of Pago del Vallo di Lauro, a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, transforms into a medieval village. The Awakening of the Village and the Orsini Procession is a historical re-enactment organized by the local Pro Loco, dedicated to the fiefdom of the Orsini counts, the noble family that governed the Vallo di Lauro and the county of Nola for nearly two centuries.

History: The Orsini in Vallo di Lauro

The event transports the audience to the late 13th century, shortly after the marriage between Anastasia De Monfort and Romano Orsini—a union sanctioned by King Charles II of Anjou that brought the fiefdom of Lauro, including Pago, under Orsini rule. From that moment, the village's history became intertwined with one of the most influential dynasties of the medieval Mezzogiorno. The re-enactment tells this story, edition after edition, through diligent research into local sources and heritage.

The Narrative

The event follows the arrival of a tax collector from Nola, who enters the village to collect tributes, only to find the town immersed in solstice celebrations. He is welcomed by representatives of the various districts amidst medieval banquets, flag-waver performances, and wandering musicians who recreate the atmosphere of a festive village.

The Historical Parade and the Six Districts

The highlight of the day is the parade that winds through the town—Via Piave, Via Narni, Via A. Manzoni—concluding in Piazza 25 Luglio. Costumed figures, banners, ladies, and knights march alongside the six local districts:

• Infulgico
• Lordenato
• Pago Centro
• Cellariello
• Sopravia
• Pernosano

Music, Storytelling, and Street Arts

Alongside the parade, a program of wandering performances in 2026 featured the A.S.C.R.F. Borgo San Nicolò flag-wavers, storyteller Francesco Parisi with «The Bard's Tales», the Monaghan Duo with their Irish folk repertoire, the Compagnia De' Bardi Sathor, and artistic installations by the Cartò – Riciclart collective. Folk music and street performers entertain the public late into the evening.

The Medieval Village and Local Cuisine

From 8:00 PM, the historic center becomes a large medieval village with food stalls managed by local associations. It is the most convivial moment of the evening, as families and visitors from neighboring towns—Lauro, Domicella, Marzano di Nola, Quindici, Taurano—gather among the illuminated alleys.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Pago Vallo Lauro in collaboration with the Municipality of Pago del Vallo di Lauro and is part of the Sistema Irpinia event calendar (Province of Avellino). In 2026, the Orsini Procession opened the season of historical re-enactments promoted by the UNPLI Campania network, confirming its significant role among the region's medieval events.

Why it's worth the trip

This is not a massive event with thousands of extras, and that is precisely its charm: the re-enactment is born from the town, its districts, and its volunteers, taking place on the very streets the Orsini once administered. Visitors arriving for the solstice will find an intimate, family-friendly evening and the chance to discover a lesser-known corner of Irpinia, just a few kilometers from Nola and Mount Vesuvius.