The 'Ndrezzata and Feast of Saint John the Baptist (Buonopane)

A millenary dance on the church parvis

In the green heart of Barano d'Ischia, perched about 280 meters above sea level, the small village of Buonopane preserves one of the most fascinating and ancient traditions of Campania: the 'Ndrezzata. The name means «interweaving of sticks and swords» and perfectly describes this armed dance of remote origins, which many scholars trace back to the Greek civilizations that arrived on the island of Ischia as early as the 8th century BC. Recognized as an authentic heritage of island folklore, the 'Ndrezzata is performed only twice a year, always on the parvis of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the town's only parish.

Saint John the Baptist, patron of Buonopane

Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of the village, and on June 24th, the community dedicates its most heartfelt celebration to him. The festivities open with a novena, nine days of prayer with daily Eucharistic celebrations, and culminate in the patronal solemnity, featuring a High Mass, a procession through the streets of the town, and the vibrant performance of the 'Ndrezzata immediately after the evening service. The «Città d'Ischia» Brass Band accompanies the celebrations with concerts, while at midnight, the sky over Buonopane lights up with a fireworks display.

How the 'Ndrezzata is performed

The dance features eighteen dancers arranged in two concentric circles of nine. Each holds a small stick (the mazzarello) in their right hand and a wooden sword in their left, creating a dense exchange of frontal and lateral strikes. The group is led by the caporale, who opens the performance by reciting an ancient sermon in the Neapolitan dialect; four musicians—two on clarinets and two on drums—set a rhythm that becomes increasingly intense until the final stop. Each performance lasts only eight to ten minutes but requires long months of preparation.

The legend and the peace of Easter Monday

Tradition links the birth of the 'Ndrezzata to a 16th-century event: a coral belt, a gift from a fisherman from Barano to his fiancée, reportedly ended up in the hands of a young man from Buonopane, sparking a feud between the two communities. After bloody clashes, peace was signed at the feet of the statue of the Madonna della Porta, in the Church of Saint John the Baptist, on Easter Monday. Since then, the dance has been repeated every year on Easter Monday and June 24th in honor of the patron saint. The torch is passed exclusively from father to son among the families of the village, and the new generations—the «pulcini» (chicks)—ensure the survival of this unique ritual.

An experience to live on the island of Ischia

Witnessing the 'Ndrezzata means getting in touch with the most authentic soul of Barano d'Ischia and Campania: not a show for tourists, but a community ritual that the small village of Buonopane has proudly renewed for centuries. Anyone visiting the island during the Easter period or at the end of June should not miss the chance to come up here and be swept away by the colors, sounds, and popular faith of this festival.