Feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim

The Feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim in Lacco Ameno

In late July, the small town of Lacco Ameno, on the island of Ischia in the province of Naples, gathers around the Church of San Rocco to celebrate Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary. It is one of the oldest and most beloved religious festivals on the island, celebrated with particular fervor by the local mothers, who recognize Saint Anne as their protector. Not to be confused with the spectacular Sea Festival at the Rocks of Saint Anne held in the municipality of Ischia, this is a more gathered and devotional celebration, deeply tied to the life of the Lacco Ameno community.

A devotion born in the 17th century

The festival is organized by the Congrega Pio Monte di Sant'Anna, an ancient confraternity founded in 1628 that still maintains the Church of San Rocco on Via San Rocco today. The temple, whose existence is documented by a 1542 notarial deed, preserves true art treasures: a precious 17th-century painting depicting Saint Anne, Saint Joseph, and the young Virgin Mary, dated 1628, and wooden sculptures attributed to the school of the famous Neapolitan sculptor Giuseppe Sammartino. The novena, which was interrupted in 1947 due to the war, was later restored by Monsignor Vincenzo Scoti and has marked the approach of the festival every summer since.

Novena, procession, and fireworks on the Marina

The festivities officially open on July 16th with the enthronement of the wooden statue group of Saint Anne, Saint Joachim, and the infant Mary, followed by days of novena with prayers, masses, vespers, and moments of adoration. The climax arrives on the central days of July 25th and 26th: on the evening of the 26th, the liturgical day of the saints, Holy Mass in Piazza Rosario is followed by a procession through the village streets and a grand fireworks display on the Marina of Lacco, which illuminates the famous Fungo rock, the symbol of Lacco Ameno.

Popular faith and community

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival thrives on moments of community and solidarity: charity evenings in Piazza Rosario, variety shows, awards ceremonies, and food stalls enliven the July nights. It is an opportunity to discover the most authentic side of Lacco Ameno and the island of Ischia, far from the large tourist flows, within a tradition that the Campania Region preserves as a living part of its popular heritage.