Feast in Honor of Saint Anthony of Padua

A devotional feast in the heart of the Alto Sangro

The Feast in Honor of Saint Anthony of Padua takes place every year on June 13th in the village of Villa Scontrone, part of the municipality of Scontrone, in the province of L'Aquila, in inland Abruzzo. Nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters along the Alto Sangro valley, on the edge of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, the village maintains a strong bond with its religious traditions, and the feast of the Saint of Padua is among the most cherished by the local community.

Devotion to Saint Anthony

Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the most venerated saints in Italy, is celebrated throughout the peninsula on June 13th, the day of his passing. In Villa Scontrone, the feast retains the intimate and participatory character of small mountain towns: the day revolves around the religious service and the procession with the statue of the Saint through the village streets, accompanied by the faithful and the ringing of church bells. It is an occasion where the entire community, including families originally from the village who return for the event, gathers to celebrate their shared faith.

Brass band performances

The secular heart of the feast lies in the brass band performances: the band's concert accompanies the procession and enlivens the village squares, renewing a custom typical of patronal and devotional feasts in the Abruzzo Apennines. To ensure the event takes place safely, the Municipality of Scontrone implements temporary traffic changes every year in the area of Piazza del Carmelo and the central streets of Villa Scontrone, including pedestrian zones and parking restrictions during the festivities.

Scontrone and its traditions

Scontrone is a village with ancient origins, dating back to the Samnite and later Roman eras, which developed in the Middle Ages as a fortified hilltop center. In addition to the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, the village's devotional calendar includes the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot in January with traditional bonfires, the celebrations for the patron saints John and Paul at the end of June, and the celebrations of Our Lady of the Snow in August. The area is also known for its Paleontological Documentation Center, featuring fossils of the Hoplitomeryx, and for its genuine mountain gastronomy, including honey, cheeses, cured meats, and traditional Alto Sangro cuisine.

An opportunity to discover the village

Participating in the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua means experiencing the authenticity of a small Abruzzo village, where religious festivals are still a moment of community and hospitality. Visitors can combine their attendance at the feast with a walk through the village alleys, the Sangro gorges, and the hiking trails surrounding Villa Scontrone.