Traveling Under the Stars

A summer night in the heart of Irpinia

Traveling Under the Stars is a cultural festival that every summer transforms Grottolella—a small village of just over 1,800 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 565 meters in the province of Avellino—into an open-air theater. Promoted by the Municipality of Grottolella with the patronage of the Province of Avellino and the Campania Region, the event is concentrated into a single August evening, yet in just a few hours, it brings together live music, contemporary art, cinema, author meet-and-greets, astronomical observations, and tastings of local Irpinian products.

The underlying idea is to slow down the pace of contemporary life for one night and experience culture as a common good: not a show to watch while seated, but an experience to walk through, among the stones of the historic center.

A diffused itinerary through alleys, squares, and the castle

There is no single stage: the audience walks from stop to stop, encountering installations, concerts, and educational stations throughout the village. The recurring locations are now well-known:

• Piazza A. Maglio, the beating heart of the evening, where the main concerts and author meetings are held;
• Castello Macedonio, the ancient medieval fortress of the town, serving as a backdrop for solo exhibitions and art installations;
• the alleys and small squares of the historic center, animated by performances, roaming music, and lighting displays;
• the small square of Via Carafa, at the foot of the castle, the historic site of the educational astronomical observatory.

Music, art, and cinema under the sky

The musical programming has always mixed genres: from the one-man-band concert of the first edition to jazz and blues, from tributes to Italian singer-songwriters to nineties-themed nights. Alongside the music, there is space for visual arts, with exhibitions by local artists and interactive installations, as well as open-air cinema. Each edition has a declared common thread: peace, the memory of a great artist, or the relationship between roots and the future.

The sky above Grottolella

Astronomy has been the signature of the event since its inception. For years, the collaboration with the Astro Association of Atripalda has brought telescopes and science communicators to Grottolella: the educational station allows visitors to observe the Moon, planets, double stars, and constellations, accompanied by short astronomy lessons and mythological tales of the summer sky. The village's altitude and distance from city lights make the observation particularly pleasant.

The flavors of Irpinia

Along the route, food and wine stalls are set up with traditional Grottolella recipes and local products. Irpinia is one of the most important wine regions in Campania: the evening is also an opportunity to taste what the hills around Avellino have to offer.

The editions that shaped the festival

• 2019 — first edition, August 9: astronomical observatory at the foot of Castello Macedonio, meeting with local authors in Piazza A. Maglio, the Cuore Diserbato exhibition by Giovanni Spiniello, and the one-man-band concert by Luca Pugliese.
• 2022 — August 4, an edition dedicated to peace and Ukraine, with installations at Palazzo Pellegrini, jazz and blues music, and the participation of the Ukrainian Association of Irpinia.
• 2023 — a tribute to the seventieth anniversary of the birth of Massimo Troisi and the music of Pino Daniele.
• 2024 — August 17, Back to the 90's edition, with the Come Max Tribute Band concert dedicated to Max Pezzali and 883 in Piazza A. Maglio.
• 2025 — August 2, sixth edition on the theme of restanza (the choice to stay) and artificial intelligence.

Grottolella, a village to discover

The town is worth a visit during the day as well: Castello Macedonio dominates the town, while the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the chapel of San Giovanni Battista house valuable works of art. The patron saint, Saint Giles (Sant'Egidio abate), is celebrated on September 1st. Grottolella is just a few kilometers from Avellino, making it convenient to combine the evening with a weekend exploring the wines and villages of the province.

What to expect from the 2026 edition

The Municipality of Grottolella has not yet released the date and program for the 2026 edition. The festival has always been held in August, in a single evening: it is advisable to check information on the official municipal channels and the Irpinian press before traveling.