May 2025 in Campania: between museums under the stars and centuries-old traditions

Culture, art, and tradition. A month of unmissable events, from major initiatives like Maggio dei Monumenti, Museum Night, and International Museum Day, to ancient popular celebrations listed in the Inventory of Campania’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, which bring life to every corner of the region. On May 17, Campania will also be featured at the Turin International Book Fair.

From May 2 to June 1, Maggio dei Monumenti returns to Naples for its 31st edition, themed around fire — a symbol of passion, energy, and rebirth. The event offers a rich program of exhibitions, performances, concerts, guided tours, and workshops. A highlight will be the tribute to David Lynch, with an open-air screening of the pilot episode of the cult series Twin Peaks, followed by a film marathon. The project “Focusing In” invites people to explore the city’s heritage through art, memory, and innovation, involving schools, institutions, and associations.

A special evening to see museums in a new light. On May 17, Museum Night returns, with extended hours and a symbolic entry fee of just 1 euro. Museums and cultural sites across Campania will welcome visitors late into the night with exhibitions, performances, and magical atmospheres. On May 18, International Museum Day will be celebrated, promoted by ICOM to highlight the role of museums in societal development. This year’s theme: The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.

In May, Campania Revives Centuries-Old Rituals Recognized by the Inventory of Campania’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (IPIC), these practices reflect the traditions, knowledge, and craftsmanship passed down through generations of the Campanian community.

In the heart of Naples, devotion to San Gennaro energizes the city through the ritual of the liquefaction of his blood. In Somma Vesuviana, the Festival of the Mountain honors the fertility of the land with the ancient Evera Pucchiacchella banquet — a symbol of fertility — and the Pertica ceremony, a tree-based ritual brought to life with folk songs and dances. On the island of Ischia, the Festival of Santa Restituta lights up both land and sea with emotional processions.

Faith and tradition intertwine in the region’s small villages. In Pietramelara, pilgrims walk 90 km to the Sanctuary of Castelpetroso in a profound act of devotion. In Laurino, the worship of Saint Helena merges with fairs and folk performances. Scafati celebrates the Madonna dei Bagni with rituals connected to miraculous water, while in Postiglione, the festival of Saint Elias culminates in a grand open-air banquet. These celebrations reflect a powerful sense of popular devotion interwoven with agricultural rites, miraculous beliefs, and communal gatherings, keeping ancient traditions alive — even among Campanian communities abroad.

Campania Showcases its Heritage at the Turin International Book Fair

From May 15 to 19, Campania will be the guest of honor at the Turin International Book Fair. On Saturday, May 17, at the Spazio Campania, the event From Intangible Heritage to Travel Guide: New Narratives of Campania will bring together two major projects: the new Lonely Planet guide to Campania, created with campania>artecard, and the Inventory of Campania’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (IPIC). Two different tools, one shared goal: to tell the story of a region through its culture, nature, traditions, and new visions of tourism.