Valentino Schiano Memorial and Kite Festival

The most anticipated May 1st in Monte di Procida

In Monte di Procida, a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples overlooking the Phlegraean Fields, May 1st is more than just a date on the calendar: it is the day of the Valentino Schiano Memorial. Promoted by the Municipality in collaboration with the Pro Loco Monte di Procida APS and the Bar Pina Schiano Valentino Cycling Cultural Association, the event unites two local traditions: the morning eco-friendly bike ride and the afternoon kite flying at the Marina di Acquamorta. It is a celebration without stages or tickets, one that has involved generations of local families for decades.

Who was Valentino Schiano

Valentino Schiano (1920-1989) is considered the central figure in the birth of cycling in Monte di Procida. A pastry chef by trade who returned home after the war, he opened the Bar Pina in 1950, which quickly became the meeting point for local athletes. In 1959, he founded the Gruppo Sportivo Bar Pina, which attracted athletes from Naples and across the Campania region, and over his lifetime, he organized over two hundred regional cycling events. His greatest organizational achievement occurred on May 20, 1977, when the time-trial prologue of the Giro d'Italia started in Monte di Procida, heading toward Bacoli; it was won by the Belgian cyclist Freddy Maertens. The Memorial was created to keep that memory alive and transform it into a participatory experience every year.

The eco-friendly bike ride

The day begins at 9:00 AM with cyclists gathering in Piazza XXVII Gennaio, in the heart of the town center. From there, the group rides together through the town streets: a simple, non-competitive route designed for citizens of all ages, from children on their first bikes to lifelong enthusiasts. The itinerary covers the main streets of the center—Corso Garibaldi, Via Filomarino, Piazza Sant'Antonio—before descending toward the sea. A helmet is mandatory, and free registration is traditionally handled at local shops in the days leading up to the event.

Kites at Acquamorta

In the afternoon, from 3:00 PM, the festivities move to the Marina di Acquamorta, the small port nestled beneath the town's promontory. This is where the most photographed moment of the year takes place: dozens of handmade kites, often built at home by parents and children, soar into the sky above the bay. The backdrop is the unmistakable view of the Phlegraean Islands: Procida and Ischia on one side, and the Gulf of Naples on the other. Participation is free, and no registration is required—just bring your own kite.

A community celebration

• Morning: Non-competitive eco-friendly bike ride for all ages, gathering at Piazza XXVII Gennaio.
• Afternoon: Kite flying at the Marina di Acquamorta, open to children and families.
• Admission: Free for both parts of the day.
• Spirit: No rankings, no prizes—the goal is simply to be together in the open air.

Monte di Procida and the Phlegraean Fields

The Memorial is also a great way to discover one of the most scenic villages in Campania. Monte di Procida is the westernmost municipality of the Phlegraean area: terraces overlooking the sea, vineyards facing the gulf, the beach of Acquamorta, and the viewpoint looking toward Procida. Visitors can easily combine the day with a walk through the narrow streets of the center or a stop at the seafood trattorias at the Marina, in a territory that also hosts events in nearby Bacoli during the same weekend. The Municipality of Monte di Procida has supported the event for years as one of the defining identity events of the local community.