Feast of SS Felix and Adauctus – Villa Santi

A patronal feast in the heart of Val Menocchia

The Feast of SS Felix and Adauctus is the patronal feast of the hamlet Villa Santi, an agricultural village in the Municipality of Massignano, in the province of Ascoli Piceno (Marche). Villa Santi is located along the Val Menocchia, a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast between Cupra Marittima and Grottammare, and is famous for its church dedicated to Saints Felix and Adauctus, a building remodeled in the 17th century but which preserves the apse of an ancient Romanesque church from the 10th century.

The saints and tradition

The feast is dedicated to Saint Felix, a Roman priest martyred during Diocletian's persecution, and to Saint Adauctus, whose name means "added": according to tradition, he was a stranger who spontaneously declared himself Christian to share the fate of the priest. Around their figures, the community of Villa Santi renews an event each year that combines religious devotion and the social life of the village.

The festival program

The event traditionally takes place over two days. The eve opens with an evening Briscola card game competition in the parish hall, a convivial moment greatly appreciated by the inhabitants. Sunday is the heart of the feast: in the morning, there is the vintage car and motorcycle gathering and the performance of the Banda Musicale Città di Massignano, directed by Maestro Luca Cognigni, followed by the solemn Holy Mass with the blessing of the fields, animated by the parish choir, and the traditional procession. The afternoon is dedicated to the popular festival, with a live musical performance and games for children.

A village to discover

Attending the feast is also an opportunity to discover Massignano, an ancient hilltop village once called the "potters' town" for its production of terracotta, and the hamlet of Villa Santi with its church and garden where there is a statue of the Madonna blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1980. An authentic event, with free admission, that tells the story of the rural culture and popular faith of southern Marche.