Feast of Santa Maria Goretti, San Rocco and Maria SS. Assunta

The patronal feast of San Benedetto dei Marsi

Every year, in the final days of August, the town of San Benedetto dei Marsi (Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo) gathers to honor its patron saints: Santa Maria Goretti, San Rocco, and Maria SS. Assunta. It is the most anticipated event of the Marsican summer, drawing thousands of people from across the region and beyond in a profound tapestry of popular devotion, tradition, and entertainment.

The relic from Corinaldo and the motorcycle procession

The religious heart of the festival is the arrival of the venerated relic of Santa Maria Goretti, brought from Corinaldo in the province of Ancona, the Saint's birthplace. This devotion dates back to the early 1950s, when, according to local tradition, a local farmer dreamed of the Saint asking him to build a church in her honor. This spiritual twinning between the two towns, formalized in 2007, created a bond that is renewed every last weekend of August.

The most evocative element is the motorcycle procession: for over sixty years, hundreds—sometimes thousands—of motorcyclists from across Central Italy have escorted the relic along a historic route through San Benedetto dei Marsi and nearby Pescina. The gathering kicks off in the afternoon at the Villa Comunale in Largo Concezione, and the procession returns in the evening toward Via Pace and Piazza degli Alpini, welcomed by civil, military, and religious authorities.

Faith and celebrations

Alongside the motorcycle event, the festivities maintain a strong liturgical character: the procession of the Assunta, the solemn reception of the relic, and the Eucharistic celebration in the parish church, often presided over by the diocesan Bishop, mark the days of the festival and preserve its most authentic meaning.

Music and entertainment in Piazza Risorgimento

In the evening, Piazza Risorgimento transforms into a large open-air stage. Over the years, the square has hosted free concerts by beloved artists, Neapolitan music performances, and dance nights that keep the town lively until late at night. These are moments of shared joy that bring different generations together, creating the warm, vibrant atmosphere typical of Abruzzese village festivals, complete with market stalls, festive lights, and fireworks.

An identity-defining event for the Marsica region

Historically organized by local committees of different age groups in collaboration with the municipal administration, the Santa Maria Goretti festival is much more than a religious anniversary: it is a defining trait of the San Benedetto dei Marsi community and one of the most characteristic summer events in the entire Marsica area.