The bagpipe village, with a museum and a fair
In the upper valley of the Volturno, at the foot of the Mainarde mountains, in the province of Isernia, the small village of Scapoli is the Italian capital of the zampogna, the traditional bagpipe of central and southern Italy, an instrument of very ancient origin, linked to the world of shepherds and transhumance, which is played especially at Christmas, when the "zampognari", dressed in sheepskin, wool cloaks and leather sandals called "cioce", go down to the towns and cities to play the novenas in front of the nativity scenes. For centuries, in Scapoli, families of craftsmen have built zampogne by hand, using wood such as olive, cherry or maple for the pipes and goat or sheep skin for the bag, according to techniques handed down from father to son.
In the village, the Museo della Zampogna displays a rich collection of bagpipes from Italy and from all over the world, with explanations on their construction, history and music, and some workshops of zampogna makers can still be visited, where you can see the artisans at work and listen to the sound of the instrument. Every year, at the end of July, Scapoli hosts the Mostra Mercato Internazionale della Zampogna, a festival that brings together musicians, craftsmen and enthusiasts from many countries, with concerts, exhibitions, workshops and parades through the streets of the village, filled with the sound of bagpipes. Scapoli is also a gateway to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, in the Mainarde area, with beautiful trails.
Tip: come at the end of July for the international bagpipe festival; visit the Museo della Zampogna and a craftsman's workshop.
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