Feast of San Costanzo (Patron Saint of Capri)

The patronal feast of Capri

The Feast of San Costanzo is the most important religious and cultural event on the island of Capri, located in the municipality of Capri, in the province of Naples, Campania. Every year, on May 14th, the entire Capri community gathers around its patron saint and protector, San Costanzo, for a day that blends devotion, historical memory, and local life. The festivities span an entire week, featuring a novena, concerts, and processions involving the parishes of Santo Stefano and Maria SS. della Libera.

Who was San Costanzo

According to tradition, San Costanzo is venerated as the protector who saved Capri from the Saracen threat. His cult is deeply embedded in the island's identity: the ancient Church of San Costanzo, one of Capri's most significant sacred buildings located on the road connecting the town center to Marina Grande, is dedicated to him. The saint's figure is so central to local life that, during the week of festivities, a special invitation is extended to all those named Costanzo and Costanza.

The program of festivities

Preparations begin days in advance with the raising of the painting and the enthronement of the sacred image in the Piazzetta, followed by the novena and daily Holy Mass. The heart of the celebration is May 14th:

• at 11:30 AM, the solemn Holy Mass, presided over by the Archbishop of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia, Monsignor Francesco Alfano;
• in the late afternoon, following the 5:30 PM service, the traditional procession begins, carrying the image of the saint from Piazza Umberto I (the famous Piazzetta) through the town streets to the Church of San Costanzo near Marina Grande.

In the following days, the festivities continue with the chaplet to San Costanzo, the return procession from the seaside village to the Church of Santo Stefano, musical performances in the Piazzetta, and the closing Mass with the repositioning of the statue.

An experience between the sacred and the landscape

Experiencing the Feast of San Costanzo means discovering an authentic Capri, far from the worldly spotlight: the Capri of a community that recognizes itself in its roots. The procession winding through the island's white alleys, with the sea and the Gulf of Naples as a backdrop, offers one of the most intense and photogenic scenes in the religious tradition of Campania. An opportunity to combine the discovery of the 'Blue Island' with the warmth of a genuine popular festival, led by the local parish community.