The day following Easter is known by everyone by the vezzification of Pasquetta. Its exact name would be Angel Monday or Monday in Albis, although the Catholic liturgical calendar defines it as Monday of the Octave of Easter.

This holiday, which prolongs the celebration of Easter, owes its name to a biblical episode. In fact, Pascha commemorates the angel's encounter with the women who rushed to Jesus' tomb. According to the Gospel Mary of Magdala, Salome and Mary the mother of Joseph and James, went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried, bringing aromatic oils for embalming the body.

Here, however, they discovered that the large stone placed in front of the entrance had been removed. The three women were worried about the situation, when suddenly an angel appeared to them and spoke the following words, "Do not be afraid, you! I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified. He is not here! He has risen as He said; come and see the place where He was laid."

The angel then recommended that the news be announced to the Apostles and the women then ran to tell the story. Pasquetta is not a day of obligation for Catholics, meaning there is no obligation to go to Mass, and it was officially introduced as a civil holiday in Italy after World War II.

Campania's Easter Monday: original ideas on how to spend it

Pasquetta is a special day. Everyone in Campania celebrates it how and with whom they want. In fact, there is no real well-defined tradition for this day. Some people go out with friends and celebrate it with a classic picnic on the lawn, while others prefer to have lunch at home first and then go out for afternoon or evening walks. Every year, groups of people of all ages ask the same question: what to do on Easter Monday?

In fact, this is a day that while part of the holidays, is not tied to the idea of a dutiful family meal or particular traditions. Nor is the day always the same: this year, in 2023, Easter Monday falls on the April 10. Campania, with its wonderful parks and cheerful inhabitants, could be the perfect destination to celebrate this long-awaited day in a variety of ways. 

Easter in the great outdoors: walks, visits and picnics 

Generally, the Neapolitan youth Easter Monday takes place outdoors. For lovers of greenery and nature, we recommend the open and verdant spaces of the enchanting Lake Avernus. With its extensive path around the calm waters of the lake, it is an ideal place to lie in the sun, play ball in the meadows, and picnic with friends. If, on the other hand, you want to take your group to a place that, yes is outdoors, but is also a must-see tourist site, you could opt for the Pompeii excavations or of Herculaneum.

These archaeological sites are real parks where you can visit the ancient ruins of Roman cities and take advantage of the special picnic areas to relax and be with friends. There are also meadows where you can lie in the sun as well as very special sites such as the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, or the beautiful Villa Favorita in Herculaneum. If that is still not enough for you and you are more sporty and energetic you might also be interested in a nice hike in the wonderful Vesuvius National Park. 

On the other hand, if you are looking for other destinations and want to move to the Salerno area, the Fratte Archaeological Park may be the right tourist-goliard destination. Then you know that Salerno is a favorite place for beach lovers so it might be a good idea to stop at the beautiful Minerva Garden and then walk to the beautiful Salerno beaches, where you can spend a nice Easter Monday barefoot on the sand. 

After lunch, among the streets of the historic center 

If you prefer to have lunch at home and then walk through the beautiful streets of the historic center of Naples, however, here are some ideas for celebrating Easter Monday. First of all, we must say that Naples is beautiful to live in and to walk through, so even just walking through the streets of its historic center is visiting a real tourist destination. A wonderful walk in the marvelous Spaccanapoli, Via Toledo, Via Roma or the Lungomare Caracciolo is in itself a great achievement to spend the Easter Monday afternoon either with friends or family. What's more, walking in the historic center, you may not know it, but you are walking along the three ancient roman decumans. The lower decumanus, in fact, is located right at the aforementioned Spaccanapoli.

This decumanus has been lengthened to Piazza del Gesù Nuovo. As you walk along it, you could then pop in to visit the beautiful and essential Church of Santa Chiara or the Church of Gesù Nuovo, which takes its name from the very square in which it stands. Continuing on foot, then, you could arrive at the sumptuous Naples Cathedral before walking along the third and last decumanus: the decumanus major of Via dei Tribunali. 

If then by New Jesus Square prefer to walk toward the sea, you will have to continue on to the beautiful Toledo Street, past the Piazza del Plebiscito until you reach the Port of Naples. From there you can enjoy a nice walk, even in the evening, along the Lungomare Caracciolo accompanied by the beauty of the Bay of Naples.