Feast of Maria SS. della Neve

The most heartfelt feast in Sorbo Serpico

With just over five hundred inhabitants spread across eight square kilometers at an altitude of 480 meters, Sorbo Serpico is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Avellino. Yet, when September arrives, the village transforms: the Feast of Maria SS. della Neve draws back emigrants returning for the occasion, families from the neighboring towns of the Valle del Sabato, and the many Irpinians who have always known this tradition. It is the feast that marks the community's year, alongside the Coccetella Festival in July and the Chestnut and Wine Festival in autumn.

A centuries-old Marian devotion

The official patron saint of Sorbo Serpico is Saint Martin of Tours, celebrated in November, but the religious heart of the village beats for the Madonna Incoronata della Neve, venerated in the Church of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, which is also known as the Church of Santa Maria della Neve. The building houses a Baroque wooden altar of the Fanzago school and frescoes attributed to the circle of Solimena: a heritage of absolute significance for such a small center. In 1922, the statue received its solemn coronation, and the centenary celebrated in 2022—with the bishop and local authorities in attendance—reaffirmed how foundational that date remains for the identity of Sorbo Serpico.

«Note in Neve»: the festival in Piazza Nelson Mandela

For some years now, the secular portion of the festivities has been branded as «Note in Neve» and is centered in Piazza Nelson Mandela, which is transformed into an open-air stage for four days. The format alternates liturgical moments with entertainment: the commemoration of the fallen accompanied by a brass band concert, the solemn Sunday celebrations, the procession with the statue through the streets of the center, and, subsequently, evening concerts. Over the years, the stage has hosted the Grand Brass Band, tributes to Neapolitan song, comedians from the Campania scene, and Italian singer-songwriters: a deliberately popular program designed to keep all generations in the square until late at night.

A grassroots organization

Behind the event is the Maria SS. della Neve Feast Committee, supported by the Pro Loco Serapide, the patronage of the Municipality of Sorbo Serpico, and local civil protection volunteers. The same committee also organizes the village's two major food festivals: a sign of organizational continuity that brings together devotion, volunteering, and regional promotion.

What to expect at the festival

• Liturgical celebrations and solemn Vespers in the Church of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
• Evening procession with the statue of the Madonna Incoronata
• Brass band concerts and Grand Brass Band in the square
• Live music evenings, tributes, and comedy shows with free admission
• Games and entertainment for children in the afternoon
• Food stalls featuring typical Irpinian products

Around the festival: discovering Irpinia

Sorbo Serpico is about ten kilometers from Avellino and is a great starting point for exploring the Valle del Sabato and the Picentini Mountains. Within the municipal territory lies the Castel Serpico Archaeological Park, with castle ruins nestled in chestnut groves, while the local cuisine is dominated by coccetelle al ragù (the handmade pasta that gives its name to the summer festival), the PGI Serino chestnut, and the great white wines of the area, starting with Fiano di Avellino DOCG. In Campania, few events capture the life of an inland village so well: the Snow Feast is simultaneously a religious rite, a family reunion, and a lively village party.