Beata Paola Fair

The Beata Paola Fair in Bene Vagienna

The Beata Paola Fair is one of the events that kicks off the calendar in Piedmont and the entire province of Cuneo. It takes place in late January in Bene Vagienna, an elegant village in the Cuneo plains rich in porticoes and historical memories, and celebrates the community's most beloved figure: Beata Paola Gambara Costa, affectionately remembered as the "Lady" of the town. The fair combines religious significance, historical re-enactment, conviviality, and the promotion of local commerce, attracting numerous visitors from across the region every year.

The history and the figure of Beata Paola

The event has very ancient origins: already during the 19th century, following the beatification decree of Countess Paola Gambara Costa, the population began to venerate her figure in the days leading up to January 24th—the date of her passing—with novenas and religious rites that drew many faithful to Bene. The countess lived in Bene between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century, wife of Count Ludovico Costa, and chronicles attribute numerous miracles to her. She was proclaimed blessed in August 1845 by Pope Gregory XVI.

The Miracle of the Roses

The heart of the festival is the historical re-enactment of the Miracle of the Roses. Tradition tells that the noblewoman, dedicated to charity for the poor, miraculously saw the food she was carrying to the needy transform into fragrant roses inside her apron: according to the story, Paola was approaching some beggars to offer them bread when, suddenly, her husband arrived—who did not tolerate these charitable acts—and the loaves turned into flowers through divine intercession. The scene is performed in the valley at the foot of the Castello dei Conti Costa, with over three hundred participants in period costumes, horses, and animals, in a grand historical-religious representation.

The fair program

On the main day, Sunday, the historic center hosts the commercial, artisan, and agricultural fair, with stalls and exhibitors under the porticoes and in the squares. A traditional lunch is held at the Castello dei Conti Costa, while in the afternoon the re-enactment of the Miracle of the Roses comes to life, accompanied by falconry displays and gastronomic moments dedicated to local products. The festival continues in the following days with the concert by the "Città di Bene Vagienna" Band dedicated to Beata Paola, in the church of San Francesco, and with the Grand Dinner at the Castle, a convivial moment that closes the event.

A living tradition in the heart of Piedmont

The Beata Paola Fair is organized thanks to the collaboration between the Municipality of Bene Vagienna, the Pro Loco Benese, the Association of Merchants and Artisans, and numerous local volunteer groups, from the Alpini to the Civil Protection. More than just a village festival, it represents an opportunity for meeting and enhancing the Benese identity: a tradition that, in the heart of Piedmont and the province of Cuneo, continues to renew itself year after year, preserving the memory of its beloved patron.