Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Encounter of Santa Maria and San Salvatore)

A centuries-old tradition in the heart of the Tiber Valley

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, universally known in Capena as the Encounter, is the town's most deeply felt and identity-defining celebration, located in the province of Rome, in the heart of the Tiber Valley. Every year, around Ferragosto, the Lazio village comes to a standstill to relive an ancient rite that weaves together popular faith, collective memory, and spectacle. The origins of the procession in its current form date back to the second half of the 17th century: the first documentary evidence is found in the confraternity statutes of the mid-18th century, while local studies link the characteristic 'race' of the images to the Easter processions of Sicilian tradition, perhaps introduced to Capena by priests originally from Sicily.

The meaning of the Encounter rite

At the heart of the festival is the sacred representation of the meeting between Maria Santissima Assunta and the Santissimo Salvatore. According to popular tradition, the Virgin desperately searches for her Son and, after finding him, runs to meet him. The two venerated images, kept in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, are carried on shoulders through the streets of the historic center by the Fratelli Incollatori, the bearers who make this ancient custom possible. The two processions start from opposite sides of the town and, when they spot each other, the Incollatori dash forward until they reach the meeting point, where the two figures are brought face-to-face in an emotionally charged embrace.

The festival program

• August 14th — In the evening, the Feronia musical band of Capena and city authorities welcome the image of Maria Santissima Assunta in Piazza San Luca; following this, the traditional Encounter of the images takes place along Via 4 Novembre, carried by the Fratelli Incollatori, accompanied by a light and fireworks show.
• August 15th — Solemnity of the Assumption: in the late afternoon, the procession of the Images through the town streets, accompanied by the Feronia musical band.
• First Sunday of September — A second procession of the figures of Santa Maria and San Salvatore closes the cycle of celebrations.

Atmosphere and local context

The Encounter of Capena is much more than a religious festival: it is the moment when the entire community reconnects with its roots. The streets of the historic center fill with residents, families, and visitors from nearby towns in the Tiber Valley, while the nocturnal atmosphere, illuminated by fireworks, makes the race of the Incollatori an unforgettable experience. The event is organized by the Pro Loco Capena ETS in collaboration with the Municipality of Capena and the parish community, and is part of the rich calendar of festivals and popular traditions that enliven the Lazio region during the Ferragosto period.