Feast of Saint Marcellus I

The patron saint of Anversa degli Abruzzi

Every January 16th, the municipality of Anversa degli Abruzzi—a small village of just over three hundred inhabitants perched at the entrance to the Gorges of the Sagittario in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Apennine Abruzzo—celebrates its patron saint, Pope Marcellus I and Martyr. The date coincides with the Church's commemoration of the pontiff, who died on January 16, 309, and serves as the most cherished communal moment of the year for locals, experienced amidst the crisp winter climate of the Sagittario Valley.

Religious rites and folk traditions

The festival blends liturgical devotion with popular tradition. The days leading up to January 16th are marked by novenas and vespers, while the day itself culminates in a Solemn High Mass in the parish church dedicated to the saint. Surrounding the religious celebration are the traditions that make this village festival unique:

• Lighting the bonfires in the square in front of the church, a ritual made both necessary and symbolic by the biting mid-January cold;
• The blessing of the animals, rooted in the rural and pastoral life that defined the village for centuries;
• Polenta tastings and other local specialties, shared at communal tables that bring the entire village together;
• Moments of conviviality following the liturgical celebration, open to both residents and visitors.

The Church of San Marcello

The heart of the festival is the parish Church of San Marcello, the oldest in the village, with origins dating back to the 11th century. The building houses an extraordinary late-Gothic portal from the second half of the 15th century, featuring a Burgundian-influenced trefoil arch and a 1472 fresco in the lunette depicting the Madonna and Child between Saint Marcellus and Saint Vincent the Martyr. The fine chestnut wood doors were crafted in 1468 by master Nicola da Sulmona. The church underwent a Renaissance reconstruction commissioned by Nicolò Di Procida, whose coat of arms sits above the portal.

A village to discover

Celebrating Saint Marcellus in Anversa degli Abruzzi is an opportunity to discover one of the most evocative villages in inland Abruzzo, the gateway to the Gorges of the Sagittario and the Nature Reserve, located just a short distance from Scanno and the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The patronal feast, experienced in the snowy silence of the Apennine winter, offers visitors a chance to see the village in its most authentic communal state, steeped in faith, tradition, and mountain hospitality.