Celebrations in Honor of the Most Holy Crucifix
Flower festival, procession, and centuries-old devotion in the village of Capranica
About Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica
A centuries-old devotion in the heart of Tuscia
The Celebrations in Honor of the Most Holy Crucifix are one of the most cherished events of the year in Capranica, a medieval village in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region. The tradition has its roots around 1596, when the community began turning to the Crucifix to protect the town from calamities. Since then, every spring, popular devotion is renewed with a festival that unites the entire community around its oldest symbol of faith.
The flower festival and the procession of the wooden Crucifix
The heart of the festivities is the procession of the 16th-century wooden Crucifix, traditionally held on the first Sunday of May. The pageant winds through the streets of the medieval historic center and the modern part of the town, accompanied by the confreres and the marching band. On the night preceding the solemnity, the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament creates a stunning flower festival (infiorata) in Piazza San Giovanni, a carpet of petals and floral designs that transforms the village pavement into an ephemeral work of art.
A festival for the whole community
Alongside religious moments, the festivities offer a rich calendar of cultural and popular initiatives: art exhibitions at the Romanesque Temple of San Francesco, concerts, musical recitals, marching band performances, entertainment and games for children, fireworks, and the traditional tombola. The festival spans several days, involving squares, churches, and streets of the center in a climate of shared participation.
Capranica, a village in the Viterbo Tuscia
Perched on a tuff spur along the Via Francigena, the Municipality of Capranica preserves a charming historic center, with its castle, walls, and medieval churches. The Crucifix festival is an ideal opportunity to discover this corner of Tuscia, where popular spirituality intertwines with history and the hilly landscape of northern Lazio.
Faith, tradition, and local identity
More than just a religious anniversary, the Celebrations in Honor of the Most Holy Crucifix are a moment of collective identity for the inhabitants of Capranica: a thread that binds generations and brings the sense of belonging to a vibrant and welcoming community to the streets every year.
Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica — edition 2026
2026 Edition
From April 29 to May 10, 2026, Capranica celebrated the Most Holy Crucifix with a calendar that combined popular devotion with a wide program of cultural and festive events. The celebrations opened with the inauguration of the "Ljus – Luce" exhibition at the Romanesque Temple of San Francesco and continued with concerts, children's entertainment, the "Franco Paglia" marching band performance, and the fireworks display from the Ponte Stanislao Hosio.
On the first Sunday of May, the traditional procession of the 16th-century wooden Crucifix was renewed. Due to the unavailability of the Cathedral, religious services were held at the Church of Santa Maria. The festival concluded in the following days with celebrations for Maria SS. delle Grazie.
Programme Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica 2026
The 2026 program ran from April 29 to May 10, weaving together religious, cultural, and popular festive moments.
- April 29, 6:30 PM — Romanesque Temple of San Francesco: inauguration of the painting and photography exhibition "Ljus – Luce" (open until May 10).
- April 30, 5:00 PM — "Concert of the Heart", musical recital by the Capranica School at the Romanesque Temple of San Francesco.
- May 2, 10:00 AM — "Francesco tells his story", activities for children in Piazza San Francesco.
- May 2, 4:00 PM — Corso Francesco Petrarca: giant inflatable and cotton candy.
- May 2, 6:15 PM — Piano duo concert at the Romanesque Temple.
- May 2, 6:30 PM — Performance by the "Franco Paglia" Marching Band.
- May 2, 9:00 PM — Mini-procession from the Church of Santa Maria with children from the Archconfraternities.
- May 2, 9:30 PM — Live music, sweets, and fireworks display from the Ponte Stanislao Hosio.
- May 3, 3:30 PM — "Afternoon of Joy": inflatables, foosball, entertainment, and face painting.
- May 3, 5:30 PM — Concert by Ladri di Monnalisa, Italian Vintage Party.
- May 3, 8:00 PM — Tombola draw with prizes up to €1,000.
The procession of the wooden Crucifix is traditionally held on the first Sunday of May. In 2026, due to the unavailability of the Cathedral, all religious services were held at the Church of Santa Maria.
Highlights Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica 2026
- The nocturnal flower festival created by the Archconfraternity in Piazza San Giovanni
- The procession of the 16th-century wooden Crucifix
- The fireworks display from the Ponte Stanislao Hosio
- The "Ljus – Luce" art exhibition at the Romanesque Temple of San Francesco
- Concerts, marching band, and entertainment for children
Prices Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica 2026
Practical information — Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica
How to get there
Capranica is located in the province of Viterbo, along the Via Cassia (SS2). By car, it can be reached from the A1 motorway (Orte exit) or the Rome-Viterbo highway. The Capranica-Sutri station, on the Rome-Viterbo line, connects the town with the capital.
When
The festivities take place between late April and early May, with the procession of the Crucifix on the first Sunday of the month.
Admission
All events are free to attend. It is recommended to check the updated program on the channels of the Municipality of Capranica and the Archconfraternity, as some functions may change location.
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 — Most Holy Crucifix of Capranica
Centro storico di Capranica
Piazza San Giovanni, 01012 Capranica