Zampogna

Explore la bellezza of Italy.

If you are lucky to be in Italy during the Christmas season, you just might get a chance to see and hear the zampognari playing the zampogna throughout the streets and squares of small towns.

The zampogna is a wind musical instrument similar to a traditional bagpipe. It is played by the zampognari, bagpipe-playing shepherds. The zampognari were originally shepherds who came down from the hills at Christmas to celebrate with their families and entertain people in the villages.

Today, the festive tradition continues with the pipers dressed in customary woolen cloaks and peaked hats, and playing traditional music and hymns including the much-loved Italian carol, Tu Scendi dalle Stelle. The music played on the zampogna is often accompanied by a ciaramella, a wind instrument similar to the oboe.

The regions where you’re most likely to see a piper are Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Puglia and Lazio.

While in Italy, if you look closely at nativity scenes in window displays you will likely see the zampognari.