{"id":9909,"date":"2025-06-29T12:30:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T10:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nziria.com\/?p=9909"},"modified":"2025-09-13T15:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T13:09:22","slug":"a-chiena-in-campagna-water-history-and-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nziria.com\/it\/a-chiena-in-campagna-water-history-and-community\/","title":{"rendered":"A' Chiena a Campagna: Acqua, Storia e Comunit\u00e0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every summer in the historic town of Campagna<\/strong> (Salerno), the silence of its medieval alleys is transformed into a vibrant festival. Known locally as A\u2019 Chiena<\/strong> \u201cthe flood\u201d, this unique event isn\u2019t merely a playful celebration, it\u2019s a living connection to centuries of communal resilience and renewal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Origins: From Hygiene to Heritage<\/h3>\n

The tradition of diverting the Tenza River<\/strong> into the town’s main street traces back to at least the 17th century<\/strong>, likely emerging during the 1656 plague<\/strong> to cleanse and sanitize the streets through flowing water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While initial mentions of \u201cA\u2019 Chiena\u201d appear in documents from 1889<\/strong>, when the canal and paving on Corso Umberto\u202fI were restored for better water flow during cleansing<\/span> , the ritual\u2019s roots in public health extend deeper and stemming from urgent needs in response to pestilence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA\u2019 Chiena\u201d \u00a0waned in the 1970s<\/strong>, but was reborn in 1982\u201385<\/strong> after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake<\/strong>, when local artists and community members reimagined the canal diversion as a festival of water and art<\/span> .<\/p>\n

A Celebration of Water and Togetherness<\/h3>\n

Held every weekend from mid\u2011July to mid\u2011August, A\u2019 Chiena features:<\/span><\/p>\n