Fair of the Rediscovered Crucifix 2025 – XXXIII edition

XXXIII Crucifix Fair in Salerno’s Historic Center: “Among jesters and storytellers”: this is the slogan of the XXXIII Fair of the Rediscovered Crucifix that will take place in the streets, alleys and squares of Salerno’s Historic Center from Thursday, May 1 to Sunday, May 4, 2025, under the creative direction of Gianluca Foresi.

It is one of the largest medieval fairs in Italy, recently recognized by the Ministry of Culture among historical reenactments of national interest.
The kermis will be inaugurated, as usual, an hour before sunset, Thursday, May 1, with the departure of the historical parade, at 5:45 p.m. Figurants in period costumes will walk through the narrow streets of the ancient city to take to Portanova Square, where the opening performance will take place at 7 pm.
After institutional greetings, there will be:
– a rhyming introduction by fair master Gianluca Foresi;
– the City of La Cava Flag Flyers Group “Li Quattro Distretti – Luca Barba” 1969;
– the Falconieri dell’Irno with “The Flight of Birds of Prey.”
– the Compagnia Magma Musica e Giullaria and the Acrobati del Borgo Peripezie et Astuzie.
The event is supported by: Salerno City Council, Salerno Chamber of Commerce, CNA, Campania Region, Salerno Province, Ministry of Culture, Coldiretti, Salerno Community Foundation, Carisal Foundation and Salerno Medical School Foundation.
Fair master and creative director of the Fair, Gianluca Foresi, emphasizes the choice “To dedicate this edition of the Fiera Del Crocifisso Ritrovato to jesters and storytellers. These multifaceted and multifaceted figures represented in the medieval and renaissance period important points of reference regarding the various arts and specificities of live performance: entertainers, music masters, dancers, poets. These are figures who were somewhat lost in the mists of time and who, thanks to historical re-enactments such as the Fair of the Rediscovered Crucifix, have received recognition especially in the eyes of young people and those who had lost memory of them. This new edition contemplates different aspects of historical reenactment: from the playful and spectacular to the artisan, without neglecting, but even implementing it, the space dedicated to historical and cultural insights.”
For her part, the event’s organizing director, Chiara Natella, emphasizes the organizational effort of a preparation that lasts a whole year: “In agreement with Foresi, we go from region to region, from festival to festival, from village to village to view and sign up the best artists. It is thanks to this work that the Crucifix Fair has grown from year to year, ranking among the best on the national scene.”
The event, conceived by Peppe Natella, has surpassed the 3-decade milestone, registering record numbers in terms of attendance at each edition. In the name of its creator, the Fair continues with the organizational direction of his daughter Chiara and the entire Natella family. It will be a real plunge into the past among medieval markets, historical re-enactments, attractions, crafts, tastings, exhibitions, moments of entertainment and open monuments. Several sites in the historic center will be involved, hundreds of street performers: to recreate the medieval atmosphere there will be minstrels, acrobats, jugglers, stilt-walkers, fire-eaters, jesters, storytellers, street artists, and living statues.
CRAFT VILLAGE WITH CNA IN PIAZZA SANT’AGOSTINO
Thanks to the CNA of Salerno, there will be a real village in Piazza Sant’Agostino dedicated to the arts, crafts and crafts of the past, with a look at the present and the strength of made in Italy, with educational workshops, stands of typical products, medieval games and other wonders for adults and children. Among the novelties not to be missed is the Puppet Theater, the ancient art of staging the world with the PupiItalici who will offer a journey through history with the “Grand Duel between Orlando and Rinaldo.”
INTERNATIONAL SHOW LANDS IN SALERNO
One only has to scroll through the program to realize that major artists and protagonists of historical re-enactments will converge on Salerno. Several groups of artists, coming from all over Italy, and specializing in medieval reenactments around Europe. Salerno will be crowded with wandering musicians, who will provide a live soundtrack with ancient instruments (flutes, bagpipes, pipers, bombards, percussion instruments, bagpipes). In particular, the following groups of performers will be seen. “The Village Acrobats,” who combine theater with the circus of the Middle Ages. Among alleys and squares, accompanied by their ever-present musical cart, the jesters will entertain passersby to the sound of gags and various jesters. Music, juggling, acrobatics and comedy. The Artists will create various fixed and traveling show situations in perfect jester style. The “Magma” Company of traveling musicians, specializing in medieval reenactments and festivals, with performances based on rigorous philological research work in the repertoires and instruments used. Between live music, fire performances, sonnets, poetry, choreography with stilts and stage combat the artists will delight audiences of all ages. New: there will also be “The Wandering Heralds,” auctioneers who will stand at the doors of alleys and streets inviting visitors and announcing the day’s program, like medieval town criers. Their proclamations will work better than leaflets and posters in announcing daily events at venues and beyond. The White Deer Company, from Campania, making live music with ancient instruments. Amid alleys, larghi and taverns, accompanied by their ever-present musical cart, the jesters will entertain, to the sound of gags and various jesteries, the travelers, also cheering them up with music, juggling, acrobatics and comedy. Pyroetnico’s fireworks show, offers extraordinary sets with fire. His shows, characterized by the fusion of juggling, acrobatics, dance, skillful use of tools and manipulation of fire as an expressive tool. And then again the flag-wavers of the City of La Cava Group “Li quattro distretti – Luca Barba,” who will perform shows of great technical skill, with the flags twirling, hovering in the air, synchronized. The historic center of Salerno, as promised in the title of the Fair of the Retrieved Crucifix 2024, will allow people to take a plunge into the year 1000 and beyond, in the heart of the Middle Ages.
THE FALCONERS OF THE IRNO: ART RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO
The Fair will be attended by “I falconieri dell’Irno,” who, with about 30 birds of prey, will showcase the beauty of acrobatic birds and the unpredictable flights they perform. In 2010, UNESCO recognized Falconry as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity’Unesco. It is an art that saw in the cultured medieval ruler Frederick II of Swabia a great admirer, so much so that it led him to write a treatise that is still a masterpiece today: “The de arte venandi cum avibus,” the art of hunting with birds, which contemplates the habits and characteristics of hundreds of species of birds and is accompanied by rich miniatures. With the utmost respect for the animals. It is good, in fact, to specify that the didactic-demonstration of flight includes simulations of hunting on mock prey and involvement of the public, always with respect for the animals: all birds of prey are legally kept, born in captivity at controlled farms and reported to the State Forestry Corps. Species to be seen include Barn Owl, African Eagle Owl, Bengal Eagle Owl, Harris’s Buzzard, Malaysian Tawny Owl, Sacred Hawk, Chilean Eagle, and Collared Vulture.
HISTORY IN THE THEATER AND GUIDED TOURS
As successfully experienced last year, there will be theater appointments and guided tours during the Fair to learn more about history and stories.
At Apollonia hub appointment with ‘O cunto d”o mago Barliario by Corradino Pellecchia, directed by Andrea Carraro, performed by Dario Avagliano.
In Piazza Tempio di Pomona, on the other hand, Diego De Silva’s Stage Tale: “Angeli moralisti” with Ludovica Sguazzo, Cinzia Ugatti and Amelia Imparato Regia, directed by Andrea Carraro, will be repeated several times.
Guided tours and walks also return.
With Erchemperto and Duomo Travel “Salerno Unveiled: A Medieval Adventure in Period Dress” (reservations 340-9778659).
With Officine Dinamo, there will be a Roving Reading of the book “Salerno Walks for Curious Children” (reservations at 392-0149239).
MEDIEVAL TAVERN AT GUARNA PALACE
How did people eat in the Middle Ages? What did people eat in the Middle Ages? To get a taste of it, it has to be said, all you have to do is go to the hallway of the ancient Palazzo Guarna, just a few steps from the cathedral, for a revisiting of the cuisine of popular medieval taverns. Typical medieval dishes, including cured meats, legumes, cheeses, wine, bread and other specialties that abounded on the table around the year 1000, you will be able to taste succulent food freshly prepared.
 
Full program at
www.bottegasanlazzaro.it – Facebook page Bottega San Lazzaro – Fair of the Crucifix.