Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

A patronal feast in the heart of the village of Sant'Angelo

In Sant'Angelo, a hamlet of the municipality of Serrara Fontana on the southern tip of the island of Ischia, the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is the event that marks the end of the season and returns the village to its locals. It is celebrated every year on September 29th and 30th, during the days of the Archangel's liturgical solemnity, and is preceded by a three-day preparation period in the parish church named after the saint.

The village, closed to traffic and clustered around the isthmus connecting it to the Tower, is the perfect setting for a popular celebration: the narrow alleys, the small square overlooking the fishermen's harbor, and the white terraced houses by the sea become the natural stage for two days of rituals, music, and light.

The sea procession, the most anticipated moment

The heart of the feast is the sea procession on September 30th. In the late afternoon, the statue of Saint Michael is embarked at the fishermen's harbor and hoisted onto a festively decorated fishing boat, which sets sail followed by a long trail of illuminated boats. The procession navigates toward Punta Chiarito and continues along the coast to the Maronti beach before returning to the bay.

The landing takes place under the Tower: from there, a torchlight procession accompanies the saint to the square and then into the church. It is a ritual that speaks to the true history of this place, a community of fishermen who for centuries relied on the Archangel to return home from the sea. Along the route, hotels, restaurants, and coastal homes greet the passage with their own fireworks, while the sunset on the southern side of the island does the rest.

Two days marked by faith, music, and fire

The schedule of the feast repeats year after year with few variations:

• September 29th — morning mass, diana (morning fireworks), arrival of the brass band wandering through the village alleys, solemn mass in the parish, band concert in the square at noon, mass and land procession in the late afternoon, evening concert on the Pablo Neruda square.
• September 30th — another round by the band, solemn mass, exhibition of the statue in the square for the veneration of the faithful, sea procession, torchlight procession, lyrical-symphonic band concert in the square, and pyromusical show to close, around midnight.

The Aurora - Città di Panza brass band, a historic island ensemble, has accompanied these two days for years: their lyrical-symphonic concert in the square, before the fireworks, is one of the moments most loved by islanders.

A heritage recognized by the Campania Region

With executive decree no. 382 of August 13, 2025, the Campania Region inscribed the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel of Sant'Angelo in the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania (IPIC), in the category of celebrations. The recognition was presented on December 15, 2025, in Naples at the Teatro Trianon Viviani, along with the third edition of the IPIC catalog. For Serrara Fontana, this is a milestone that consolidates Ischia's role as a guardian of traditions that are still alive and not reconstructed for tourism.

Sant'Angelo, Serrara Fontana, and the south of the island

Serrara Fontana is the highest municipality on the island of Ischia, in the Metropolitan City of Naples: it rises from the sea of Sant'Angelo to the slopes of Mount Epomeo, among terraces, vineyards, and trails. Sant'Angelo is its seaside hamlet, a pedestrian village accessible only on foot or by sea, famous for the Sorgeto bay, the Maronti fumaroles, and natural thermal springs. Coming here at the end of September means finding the island in a quieter version, with the low light of autumn and the rhythms of the community prevailing over those of the beach season.

How to make the most of it

• Arrive early: the village is small and fills up on the evenings of the feast, especially for the sea procession and the fireworks.
• Choose your viewing spot: the small square and the pier for the boat departure, the Maronti beach or the scenic road for the procession's passage, the Tower for the arrival.
• Bring a light jacket: at the end of September, after sunset, the sea breeze is noticeable.
• Check the program in the preceding days: in case of bad weather, the sea procession and fireworks may be postponed to the following days.