An authentic tale of old Campania: the pilgrimage on foot to Pompeii, experienced through the eyes of a child in the 1970s.
Faith, tradition, and humanity along the road to the Madonna of Pompeii.
The meaning of “Going to Pompeii”
“Going to Pompeii.”
An expression I’ve heard since I was a child, and for us, in the 1970s, it had an almost magical flavor. The women of the village pronounced it with the same excitement with which we kids would arrange to meet in the square to play soccer.
I remember my mother and her friends getting ready with enthusiasm: a candle in hand, a small backpack with water, a sandwich, some fruit inside. Leading them was always the parish priest or someone close to him, a point of reference for a journey that was both prayer and popular celebration.
The journey through the night
They would set off almost at midnight. The streets of Lanzara would fill with footsteps, songs, and flickering light. Some women walked barefoot, others clutched the rosary between their fingers.
The long, silent route passed through Nocera Inferiore, Pagani, and Scafati, all the way to Pompeii.
At every crossroads, the group grew, like a river swelling as it gathers other streams: women from every village, united by the same faith and the same enthusiasm.
Fatigue didn’t matter. Only the destination mattered — the Madonna who awaited them at the Sanctuary.
A memory of faith and community
Watching as a child that procession of lights and voices, I understood that “going to Pompeii” was not just a physical journey. It was an act of love, a collective ritual that united people in hope, in effort, and in faith.
For us who were little, it was like witnessing a mysterious and powerful adventure: the road, the stars, and a people walking towards something greater.
Discovering authentic Campania
Today, rediscovering traditions like the pilgrimage to Pompeii means entering the true heart of Campania — a land that lives on faith, on handed-down stories, and on communities united by feeling.
Do you also want to experience the thrill of a journey into authentic Campania?
👉 Explore the routes, stories, and experiences on Stay in Campania Experience
