La Ruzzola del Formaggio – The Rolling of the Cheese!

With an event name like that, you know you've got my Interest! This is a curious carnevale celebration to be sure and I'm I want to thank my new friend, Leslie, for bringing this strange, yet wonderful event to my attention. I also want to thank Barbara (from Savour the Sannio tour company) for satisfying my desire to learn more. She not only promptly replied to my pleas for more information, but had already published a fantastic article describing this ancient ritual brought down from the Etruscans (3,000 years ago). This slice of cultural Campania is definitely not on the tourist radar.

“Like bees honing onto a flower, the men of Pontelandolfo flock to the main square every afternoon until the end of carnevale. Proud and defiant, they challenge one another individually and in groups to a grueling contest of la ruzzola del formaggio . . . literally "the rolling of the cheese"!,” Barbara wrote in her introduction to this curious pastime. “It’s a bit like golf,” explained Leslie. The players are not rambunctious, but reserved as they plot their next move. The idea is to complete a set course with the least amount of cheese rolling as possible. Sounds simple, right? I’m not so sure. Some of the cheeses weigh in at over 70 pounds!

To read the whole article published at SlowTravel Italy, click here.

Event Details
Where: Ponteldandolfo, Benevento (Google Map)
When: Saturday & Sunday afternoons 2-5:30pm, January 17- February 24
Link: Pontelandolfo News (In Italian)

Other Carnivale Events in Southern Italy

*Photo Credit: Barbara Goldfield, Thanks Barbara!