Zampogna, Ciaramella and Organetto Festival

A festival dedicated to the pastoral sounds of Southern Italy

The Zampogna, Ciaramella and Organetto Festival is an autumn tradition that, every October, brings the wind and reed instruments of the southern heritage back to the Convent of San Francesco in Padula. For one evening, typically starting at 8:30 PM, the Franciscan complex fills with the raw, ancient sound of the zampogna, the bright timbre of the ciaramella, and the driving rhythm of the organetto. Local press has described it as a unique event on the national and international stage, as it goes beyond a simple concert to showcase the vitality of a repertoire that remains very much alive in the southern countryside.

Zampogna, ciaramella and organetto: three instruments, one tradition

The zampogna is the southern ancestor of the bagpipe: a goatskin bladder that powers multiple pipes, capable of sustaining both melody and drone. The ciaramella (or pipita) is the folk oboe that accompanies it, known for its sharp, piercing sound that carries over long distances. The diatonic organetto, which arrived later, has taken a place of honor in dance parties, tarantellas, and town square celebrations. Together, these three instruments tell the story of the southern farming calendar: Christmas novenas, patronal feasts, pilgrimages to sanctuaries, and traditional door-to-door begging.

The bond with Saint Francis

The festival does not happen in October by chance: it is an integral part of the celebrations in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, which in Padula span from late September to mid-October, featuring the novena, the blessing of children wearing the habit, the blessing of animals in the fields, the October 4th procession, and the traditional 'Cena degli Angeli' (Angels' Dinner). In this context, the zampogna is not just postcard folklore; it is a devotional instrument that has accompanied processions and folk songs linked to the saint for centuries. Previous editions have also been enriched by workshops dedicated to the ciaramella and votive crafts, curated by the Desidera association.

Padula, the Convent and the Charterhouse

We are in the Municipality of Padula, in the province of Salerno, within the Vallo di Diano, at the southeastern tip of Campania, at the foot of the mountains that mark the border with Basilicata. The town is world-famous for the Charterhouse of San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest in Europe, but it also preserves the Convent of San Francesco, home to the Franciscan friars and the natural venue for the festival. Visitors arriving for the evening of folk music have the opportunity to discover a village that combines grand monastic architecture, deep-rooted religious traditions, and a Vallo di Diano cuisine still closely tied to the land's produce.

A young but well-established event

The first edition was held in October 2022, followed by the second in 2023, the third in 2024 with numerous artists from the Campanian musical tradition, and the fourth on October 10, 2025. In just a few years, the festival has become one of the most anticipated autumn events in Padula, drawing audiences from across the Vallo di Diano and neighboring provinces.

What to expect

• Traditional southern zampogna and ciaramella ensembles
• Organetto players and dance repertoire (tarantellas, saltarellos, 'canti a distesa')
• Evocative setting within the spaces of the Convent of San Francesco
• An evening event, suitable for families
• Part of the broader calendar of Franciscan celebrations in Padula

Why it's worth the trip

For those who love folk music, Padula in October is a small date to mark on your calendar: not a mass-market festival, but an evening where you can hear a sonic heritage live that elsewhere survives only in archives. The combination of the Franciscan setting, popular devotion, and musicological research makes this festival an interesting case of intangible cultural heritage promotion in Campania.