Ancient Saint Lucia Fair

A fair that spans the centuries

The Ancient Saint Lucia Fair is one of the most iconic events in San Giovanni in Marignano, a village in the Valconca in the province of Rimini, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. It is an event with very ancient origins – tradition dates it back almost a thousand years – which every year, around mid-December, transforms the historic center into a large festive market. The fair is dedicated to Saint Lucia, patron saint of sight, and has its roots in the ancient celebrations of the winter solstice, when the shortest days of the year give way to the return of light.

The Granary of the Malatesta

San Giovanni in Marignano is historically known as the Granary of the Malatesta: thanks to the fertility of its lands, the village supplied grain, oil, and wine to the lordship that dominated Rimini and Romagna. This agricultural vocation is still the common thread of the fair today, which promotes the typical products of the area, local crafts, and ancient farming techniques. It is not uncommon to find, alongside the stalls, an exhibition of vintage tractors and agricultural machinery that pays homage to the productive history of this part of Romagna.

What to find at the fair

The event unfolds in Piazza Silvagni and the streets of the historic center, with a program that combines commerce, culture, and entertainment for families:

• Christmas markets with sweets, gift ideas, typical products, and crafts
• The Elves' Village, with creative workshops, entertainment, and old-fashioned games for children
• Santa Claus's cottage
• Tastings of local wine and oil
• Concerts and musical performances in churches and squares (brass band, choirs, historic organ)
• Theater performances at the A. Massari Theater
• The Saint Lucia Mass and nativity scenes set up in the village

An event for the whole territory

Included in the calendar promoted by the Municipality of San Giovanni in Marignano under the territorial brand of the Granary of the Malatesta, the Saint Lucia Fair is the event that closes the year and opens the holiday season in Valconca, following events such as the Night of the Witches and the New Year's Eve of Wine. Admission is free and the atmosphere, with its lights and the scent of sweets, attracts visitors from all over the Rimini Riviera and the Romagna hinterland.