The Ischia ‘Ndrezzata

Author: Serena

The ‘Ndrezzata is an Ischia traditional folk singing characterized by the use of wooden swords and sticks. According to the legend the ‘Ndrezzata was the particular dance that nymphs performed when Apollo played his gilt zither. When the nymphs left Ischia wanted the Buonopane ( that is today a district of Barano) inhabitants to keep on perpetuate this dance.

After this event the inhabitants of Buonopane continued to fight against which ones of Barano until 1540 when a Barano guy fell in love with a Buonopane girl giving to her a belt as the symbol of their union. Unfortunately the girl lost her belt that was found by a Buonopane inhabitant and this inconvenient caused the beginning of a new fight between these two villages. However at the end people’s savvy won and peace was re-established by burning the belt in front of the San Giovanni Church. For this happy occasion the Buonopane inhabitants celebrated dancing and singing the ‘Ndrezzata. Still today local people recall the end of that fight each Easter Monday and on the 24th of June to celebrate San Giovanni.

Surely the ‘Ndrezzata has very ancient origins dating back to Greeks who firstly lived in Ischia calling it Pitecusa. The use of swords recalls, in fact, the training exercises that Greek soldiers did for war. The sticks recall another Ischia tradition: the action of beating houses roofs to make them resistant and compact.