Feast in Honor of Saint Philip of Agira
The patronal feast of Laurito, featuring a novena, processions, and the blessing of the anchovies
About Saint Philip Feast
A patronal feast in the heart of the Cilento hinterland
In the municipality of Laurito, in the province of Salerno, Campania, the feast in honor of Saint Philip of Agira is the annual event that has defined the community's calendar for centuries. It is celebrated every year around May 12th, the day of the saint's liturgical solemnity, with an equally heartfelt vigil on May 11th. This is no staged festival; it is a true village feast that draws emigrants back home and fills the narrow streets of the historic center with life.
Saint Philip of Agira, the saint who unites Sicily and Cilento
Saint Philip of Agira, popularly known as «San Filippo 'u niuru», is one of the most revered figures in Southern Italy. Tradition holds that he was a deacon sent to Sicily to evangelize the island and liberate it from evil spirits; his reputation as an exorcist fueled his popular cult for centuries. His name is tied to Agira, in the province of Enna, but his devotion spread up the peninsula: Laurito is one of the Cilento towns where this cult remains most vibrant and recognizable.
The church and the relic of the little finger
The heart of the feast is the Church of Saint Philip, a medieval building standing at the highest and most symbolic point of the village. Inside, it houses a Gothic chapel with exquisite late 15th-century frescoes depicting episodes from the New Testament—an artistic heritage that alone justifies a visit to Laurito outside of festival days.
However, the treasure most dear to the people of Laurito is the relic of Saint Philip's right little finger, kept in the village and presented for the veneration of the faithful during the climax of the festivities. During the novena, the community invokes the Saint with orally transmitted songs and prayers, including the famous «Saint Philip, shield and sword, may your relic liberate us from every kind of evil!».
The two days of the feast
The rhythm of the feast is well-established and repeats with few variations from year to year:
- The Novena: In the nine days preceding the solemnity, the church hosts the Rosary and Holy Mass every evening, with constant participation from the village.
- The Vigil (May 11th): Arrival of the marching band, Rosary and Mass, procession with the saint's statue to Via Sant'Antonio for prayers and the blessing of the deceased. In the evening, the illuminations are lit, food stalls open, and street performers take the stage.
- The Solemnity (May 12th): Morning Masses, a solemn procession through the village streets at noon, a tribute to the war fallen in Piazza Romualdo, evening Mass, and the final procession with the veneration of the relic.
The blessing of the anchovies
The most curious and identity-defining element of the feast is the blessing of the anchovies, which takes place during the late afternoon Mass on May 12th. It is a rite that links the mountain village to the Cilento sea and the local food culture, where salt-cured blue fish has been a staple resource for generations. For visitors, this is the moment that best captures the popular soul of the feast: devotion, rural memory, and gastronomy all in one gesture.
Music, illuminations, and fireworks
The secular side of the event is far from secondary. Illuminations transform the alleys, food stalls offer the flavors of Cilento, and the marching band accompanies both religious processions and civic moments. The finale features a lyrical-symphonic concert in the square and a midnight fireworks display, which closes the festivities with the whole village looking up at the sky.
Laurito, a village at the foot of Mount Fulgenti
Laurito has just under a thousand inhabitants and sits at an altitude of about 475 meters in the upper Mingardo river valley, at the foot of the rocky slopes of Mount Fulgenti, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. It is a typical Cilento hinterland village, far from the crowds of seaside resorts but within driving distance of the coast. Those visiting Cilento in May will find an authentic, non-touristy feast here, where community participation is still the true spectacle.
Saint Philip Feast — edition 2026
The 2026 patronal feast of Laurito
In 2026, the festivities in honor of Saint Philip of Agira fell on Monday and Tuesday, May 11th and 12th, according to the fixed liturgical calendar of the solemnity. Preparations began on May 3rd with the novena celebrated every evening in the church dedicated to the Saint: Rosary at 6:30 PM and Holy Mass at 7:00 PM.
The vigil on May 11th opened with the arrival of the «Città di Bracigliano» marching band and concluded in the evening amidst illuminations, food stalls, and performances by the storytellers. May 12th, the day of the solemnity, featured morning Masses, the noon procession through the village streets, a tribute to the war fallen in Piazza Romualdo, the 6:30 PM Mass with the blessing of the anchovies, and the final procession with the veneration of the relic. At midnight, the lyrical-symphonic concert and fireworks closed the two days of celebration.
Programme Saint Philip Feast 2026
Sunday, May 3 to Monday, May 11 — Novena
- 6:30 PM: Holy Rosary in the Church of Saint Philip
- 7:00 PM: Novena with Holy Mass
Monday, May 11 — Vigil
- Arrival of the «Città di Bracigliano» marching band
- Afternoon: Holy Rosary and Holy Mass
- Following: Procession with the saint's statue to Via Sant'Antonio, with prayers and blessing of the deceased
- In church: Placement of the saint's effigy on the artistic throne created by Ditta Alborino
- Evening: Lighting of illuminations by Ditta Romanelli, opening of food stalls
- Evening: Performance by storytellers Domenico Monaco and Santino Caravella with «Sto messo male, male, male»
Tuesday, May 12 — Solemnity of Saint Philip of Agira
- 9:00 AM: Holy Mass
- 11:00 AM: Solemn High Mass presided over by Father Antonio Michele Ridolfi O.F.M.
- Noon: Traditional procession through the village streets with the saint's statue
- Afternoon: Tribute to the war fallen in Piazza Romualdo
- 6:30 PM: Holy Mass with the blessing of the anchovies, followed by the final procession and veneration of the relic
- Midnight: Lyrical-symphonic concert by the «Città di Bracigliano» Band, conducted by Maestro Francesco Cardaropoli
- Following: Fireworks display by Cav. Carlo Di Muoio
Highlights Saint Philip Feast 2026
- The blessing of the anchovies during the 6:30 PM Mass on May 12th: the most identity-defining rite of the feast, linking the mountain village to the Cilento sea.
- The veneration of the relic of Saint Philip's right little finger at the end of the final procession.
- The lyrical-symphonic concert by the «Città di Bracigliano» Band, conducted by Maestro Francesco Cardaropoli, at midnight on May 12th.
- The midnight fireworks display by Cav. Carlo Di Muoio, the grand finale of the two days.
- The storytellers Domenico Monaco and Santino Caravella on May 11th, with the show «Sto messo male, male, male».
- The illuminations by Ditta Romanelli and the artistic throne by Ditta Alborino, which transform the historic center.
Prices Saint Philip Feast 2026
Practical information — Saint Philip Feast
When
The feast takes place every year on May 11th and 12th, with a novena held during the nine preceding days. May 12th is the liturgical solemnity of Saint Philip of Agira.
Where
Church of Saint Philip of Agira and the historic center of Laurito (SA), 84050, province of Salerno, Campania.
How to get there
- By car: Reachable from the A2 Mediterranean Motorway, exiting towards Vallo di Diano or Cilento and continuing along the provincial roads of the upper Mingardo valley. The village is about 200 km south of Naples.
- By train: The reference stations are those on the Tyrrhenian line along the Cilento coast; from there, it is necessary to continue by car or local bus services, which are infrequent on public holidays.
- Parking: During the festival, the historic center is closed to traffic during processions; it is best to leave the car in the parking areas at the entrance to the village and proceed on foot.
Costs
Religious celebrations, processions, the band concert, and the fireworks display are free to attend. Only food and drinks at the stalls are paid.
Tips
- Evenings at this altitude can be cool even in May: bring a light jacket.
- The streets of the historic center are steep and paved with cobblestones: comfortable footwear is recommended.
- Accommodation options in Laurito are limited: consider staying in neighboring towns or on the Cilento coast.
- Take advantage of the day to visit the 15th-century frescoes in the Gothic chapel of the Church of Saint Philip.
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Where does it take place — Saint Philip Feast
Chiesa di San Filippo d'Agira e centro storico