Ancient Festival of Saint Valentine and Masked Floats

Montecchio Maggiore's Oldest Festival

The Ancient Festival of Saint Valentine is the oldest event in Montecchio Maggiore, in the province of Vicenza: in 2026 it celebrates its 55th edition. It combines the religious and devotional dimension with the popular and carnival aspect, in an event deeply felt by the community.

Kissing the Relic

The spiritual heart of the festival is the kiss of the relic of Saint Valentine, which takes place at the ancient church on the hill dedicated to the saint. It is a gesture of devotion that links the festival to the religious tradition of the Vicenza area.

The Masked Floats

Alongside devotion, the festival is famous for the parade of masked floats, which starts from the Xilem (formerly Lowara) company area and crosses the town centre along Corso Matteotti, Via Lorenzoni, Via Passau, ending in Piazza Marconi, led by the Pietro Ceccato Band. Throughout the day, there is also a charity raffle, stalls, fairground rides, and the lottery draw in Piazza San Pietro.

A Shared Tradition

The event is organised by the Comitato Sagra San Pietro in collaboration with the Pro Loco of Alte Montecchio and the Municipality of Montecchio Maggiore, and represents one of the identity events of the Vicenza town.