Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

A devotion born from the plague

In the small municipality of Cineto Romano, perched on a spur of Monte Peschiero in the Sabine Mountains overlooking the Aniene Valley, the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua is celebrated every year on June 13th. The cult of the Franciscan Saint, born in Lisbon in 1195 and who died in Padua at just thirty-six, has its roots here in the terrible plague of 1635: during that crisis, the community entrusted itself to Saint Anthony alongside other protectors invoked against the disease, such as Saint Agatha, Saint Andrew, and Saint Roch. Since then, the devotion has never ceased and continues to mark the calendar of the village, one of the smallest in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region.

The Festarolo ritual

The most poignant moment of the festival is the handing over of the small statue of Saint Anthony. The small image is entrusted year by year to a local family, according to a rotation that empowers the entire community: the designated custodian, known as the Festarolo, keeps it in their home for two years. "It is a simple gesture, yet full of responsibility toward the entire community," as recounted by the parish. After a period during which the statue remained in the church, the tradition of keeping it in private homes has been renewed, bringing the Saint back into the heart of the daily life of the local people.

Two days of celebrations

The festival takes place over the weekend. On Saturday, the eve of the anniversary, fireworks and festive bells announce the start of the celebrations; during the evening Holy Mass, the solemn handover of the statue to the new Festarolo takes place. Sunday is dedicated to the Eucharistic celebration and the solemn procession, which accompanies the image of the Saint through the streets and houses of the village, bringing his blessing to every corner of the town. The day also includes moments of the parish's communal journey, such as the ritual linked to the Symbol of the Creed for those who have completed the stages of their faith journey.

The village of Cineto Romano

Known until 1882 by the name Scarpa, Cineto Romano was born around a powerful baronial castle, a fiefdom first of the Orsini and then of the Borghese families. The historic center, dominated by the bulk of the fortress and the 13th-century Church of Saint John the Baptist — the patron saint of the town — preserves the intimate atmosphere of the villages of the Lazio Apennines. Located about forty kilometers northeast of Rome, the town is an ideal starting point for excursions between the Lucretili Mountains and the Aniene Valley. For a community of just under six hundred inhabitants, the Feast of Saint Anthony represents the identity-defining event that brings together residents and those who have returned for the occasion.

An opportunity to discover the Roman hinterland

Beyond its deep religious significance, the festival is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic and off-the-beaten-path corner of Lazio, far from mass tourism circuits. Those arriving in Cineto Romano during the Saint Anthony weekend will find a village in celebration, the warmth of the locals, and the chance to breathe in a popular tradition that has remained alive and genuine, passed down from generation to generation for nearly four centuries.