The Night of the Tarantellas

A night of tarantellas in the heart of Irpinia

The Night of the Tarantellas is the evening that, every summer, transforms Pietrastornina — a small town in the province of Avellino, in Campania — into a large communal threshing floor dedicated to the folk music and dance of the South. The event takes place at Piazzale S. Iermano, right in the center, and begins once the heat of the day has faded: from 9:00 PM onwards, the rhythm of the tambourines takes over and the square becomes an open-air dance floor where no one stays watching for too long.

This is not just a simple concert. Here, the tarantella is much more than a dance: it is a social ritual, a language through which entire communities of Southern Italy have recounted work, courtship, hardship, and celebration for centuries. Those who arrive in Pietrastornina find exactly this — an opportunity to put their feet back into a tradition that is still alive, rather than observing it from behind a barrier.

Tarantellas, pizzicas, and tammuriatas

The evening's repertoire spans the great rhythmic families of Southern Italy. The Campanian tarantellas and their couple steps, the Salento pizzica with its hypnotic acceleration, the tammuriata with the frame drum dictating the tempo: three different languages that share the same circular energy and the same ability to involve those watching. The village squares light up thanks to live music performances, ready to make residents and visitors dance until late at night.

• Live music with ensembles dedicated to the authentic folk repertoire of the South
• Folk dance with demonstrations and moments open to public participation
• Free admission and the evening is entirely outdoors
• Piazza atmosphere, also suitable for families and children

Selena Sacco and "Anima Meridionale"

A recurring soul of the event is Selena Sacco, an Irpinian artist, scholar, and enthusiast of traditional music and Southern Italian dances. Her artistic project "Anima Meridionale" is centered on the rediscovery and transmission of the ancient folk dances of Southern Italy: a research effort that becomes a show on stage, and immediately after becomes a lesson, as the public is invited to try the steps together with the dancers.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Petra Strumilia Socio-Cultural Circle, an association very active in the town's cultural life, in close collaboration with the Ritmo Caliente dance school and association. The event enjoys the free patronage of the Municipality of Pietrastornina. It is a model of a festival built from the ground up, with the volunteering of the circle and the direct participation of residents — a formula that explains the informal and welcoming atmosphere of the evening.

Pietrastornina, village of the Partenio

Pietrastornina is located in the Partenio area, among the hills that close off Irpinia towards the Nolano region. It is a land of chestnuts and porcini mushrooms, woods and trails, which falls within the production area of one of the most well-known white wines of Campania, the Fiano di Avellino DOCG. Those who choose to stay for a night will find an ideal setting to combine the festival with a day spent between nature and Irpinian cuisine, a short distance from Avellino and less than an hour from Naples.

Why it's worth the trip

The Night of the Tarantellas is not a tourist re-enactment: it is a village festival that has chosen to focus entirely on folk music and the meeting of communities. The organizers describe it as an opportunity for cultural exchange between territories, a moment of sharing that celebrates roots and identity through the universal power of music and dance. For those visiting Irpinia in August, it is one of the most direct — and most fun — ways to get in touch with the living culture of Southern Italy.