Feast of Saint James (Sent Joapuksch Virtag)

The Patron Saint of Issime

The Feast of Saint James is the patron saint's feast of Issime, a small municipality in the Province of Aosta nestled in the Lys Valley. It is celebrated every year on July 25th, the day of Saint James the Greater: in Töitschu, the village's ancient Germanic language, it is the Sent Joapuksch Virtag.

A Walser Enclave

Issime is one of the historic Walser enclaves of the Aosta Valley: its inhabitants are descendants of settlers from Upper Valais who, starting from the 12th century, settled in the upper Lys Valley. Töitschu, still spoken today, and the typical architecture of the wooden and stone stadel bear witness to this identity. The heart of the village is the Church of Saint James, famous for the monumental fresco of the Last Judgment that decorates its facade.

The Festival

The patronal day combines the religious moment—the solemn Mass—with the community one, featuring a concert and performance by the Musikkapelle 'La Lira' of Issime, the band founded in 1906 to liven up the patronal feasts, weddings, and celebrations in the village and surrounding areas. With its Tyrolean and Bavarian-inspired uniforms and a repertoire also dedicated to Germanic composers, the band is today one of the most visible guardians of Issime's Walser distinctiveness. Amidst music, costumes, and traditions, the Feast of Saint James remains one of the most cherished identity moments for the community.