Cantamaggio of Morro d'Alba
The ancient ritual of 'questua' (collecting alms) celebrating the arrival of spring, with songs, dances, and the burning of the May Tree.
About Cantamaggio
A tradition rooted in ancient earth rituals
The Cantamaggio of Morro d'Alba is one of the most cherished events in the spring calendar of the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. It is an ancient ritual song of 'questua' that has celebrated the advent of spring and the beginning of the new agricultural season for centuries. Its origins lie in ancient fertility and good luck rituals: with the song of May, the farming community invoked prosperity for the hard work in the fields and, at the same time, thanked nature for its bounty.
The 'questua' song, from house to house
The heart of the festival is the 'questua' song: spontaneous groups of singers and musicians walk through the streets and hamlets of Morro d'Alba, bringing a song of good wishes, well-being, and good health from door to door. It is a choral and participatory ritual, open to all the villagers, which renews the bond between generations and the popular memory of the Marche territory each year.
The May Tree and the final burning
The symbol of the festival is the May Tree, an emblem of fertility and well-being, adorned with flowers and colorful ribbons by the local schoolchildren and carried in a procession along the characteristic "La Scarpa" Rampart Walk that encircles the historic center. The tree is "planted" in the main square, where it remains on display for the rest of the month, until the last night of May when, in a large collective bonfire, it is burned in the evocative Burning of the May Tree: the most exciting moment of the entire event, accompanied by songs, dances, and 'stornelli'.
La Macina and the Folk Traditions Center
The Cantamaggio is organized by the Municipality of Morro d'Alba and is managed by the Folk Traditions Center and the group La Macina, a historic group dedicated to research and performance of Marche folk music, founded by Gastone Pietrucci. Thanks to this preservation and research work, the festival has maintained its authenticity, remaining a rare example of a living tradition in the heart of the Marche region.
Cantamaggio — edition 2026
The 'piantamaggio' and the procession
The 44th edition of the Cantamaggio was spread over May 17, 18, and 19, 2026, dedicated to the ritual of the 'piantamaggio'. The May Tree, adorned with flowers and colorful ribbons by the schoolchildren of Morro d'Alba, was carried in a procession along the historic ramparts of the village, accompanied by folk singers and musicians, before being "planted" in the square where it remained on display until the end of the month.
The Burning of the May Tree
The most anticipated moment arrived on Sunday, May 31: from 10:00 PM, the tree was carried in an evocative torchlight procession around the "La Scarpa" Rampart Walk, reaching the main square, where it was burned in a large collective bonfire. Until midnight, songs, traditional dances, and 'stornelli' performed by authentic folk musicians continued, marking the end of a festive season that saw great participation.
Programme Cantamaggio 2026
May 17, 18, and 19 — The 'Piantamaggio'
- Ritual 'questua' song from house to house through the village hamlets
- Procession of the May Tree, decorated by schoolchildren, along the historic ramparts
- "Piantamaggio": the tree is planted in the square, accompanied by songs, dances, and 'stornelli'
Sunday, May 31 — The Burning of the Tree
- 10:00 PM — Torchlight procession of the tree around the "La Scarpa" Rampart Walk
- 10:00 PM - Midnight — Burning of the May Tree in the square, with the large collective bonfire, songs, traditional dances, and 'stornelli' performed by folk musicians
Highlights Cantamaggio 2026
Prices Cantamaggio 2026
Practical information — Cantamaggio
Where
Morro d'Alba (AN), in the historic center and along the "La Scarpa" Rampart Walk. The main events take place in the village squares and the historic ramparts.
How to get there
By car: Morro d'Alba can be reached from the SS76 (Jesi exit) or the A14 motorway (Ancona Nord toll booth), heading inland. The nearest train station is Jesi, from which you can continue by local bus or car.
Admission and information
Free admission to all events. For information: La Macina, tel. +39 0731 4263, e-mail [email protected], or the Municipality of Morro d'Alba.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Cantamaggio
Centro storico e Camminamento di Ronda La Scarpa