Ascigno Festival (Saint Gabriel and Our Lady of Sorrows)

The Ascigno Festival, the devotional heart of the district

In the Ascigno hamlet, a small district of the Municipality of Casoli in the province of Chieti, the feast dedicated to Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Sorrows is renewed every year at the beginning of September. It is the most anticipated event of the year for the residents of this small community in the Abruzzo hinterland, who gather around their church and Piazza San Gabriele for two days of faith, music, and conviviality.

An event between the sacred and the profane

The festival naturally intertwines the religious and civil dimensions, following a tradition typical of Abruzzo villages. The most solemn moment is the procession with the statue of the saint through the streets of the district, accompanied by the marching band and the faithful, followed by Holy Masses celebrated over the two days. The town's marching band also performs, bringing the repertoire of the Abruzzo band tradition to the streets.

The devotional part is accompanied by a more festive and popular side: ballroom orchestras, performances by local singers, evening concerts in the square, and the traditional DJ set that enlivens the night. Among the most fun initiatives of recent years, the human foosball tournament stands out, providing an opportunity for play and fun for young people and families in the days leading up to the festival.

Gastronomy and conviviality

As per the tradition of village festivals, Ascigno features food stalls offering the flavors of Abruzzo cuisine, with tables set up in the square for communal dining. The district community also organizes the Pallotte Cace e Ove Festival throughout the year, another delicious event that testifies to the village's attachment to its culinary traditions.

The grand finale with fireworks

The festival concludes inevitably with fireworks, which illuminate the sky above Ascigno and the Aventino valley, at the foot of the Majella massif. The organization is passionately handled by the San Gabriele Festival Committee of Ascigno, which gathers the commitment of the district's volunteers every year.

Casoli and its surroundings

The Ascigno Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover the Municipality of Casoli, an Abruzzo village included among the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy," dominated by its Ducal Castle and overlooking the Aventino valley, just a stone's throw from Lake Casoli and the Majella National Park.