Feast of the Most Holy Mary of the Assumption and Saint Emidius

A festival that brings an entire village home

Sigillo is a small hamlet in the Municipality of Posta, in the province of Rieti, in northeastern Lazio. Rustic stone houses, narrow alleys, and stairways climb the mountainside at about 650 meters above sea level, overlooking the spectacular Velino Gorges, once crossed by the ancient Via Salaria. There are little more than a hundred permanent residents, but in August the village repopulates: those who have emigrated to Rome or elsewhere return to their hometown specifically for the celebrations in honor of the patron saints.

The patrons: Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Emidius

The festival unites two devotions. The Most Holy Mary of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15th along with the rest of Italy, and Saint Emidius, bishop and martyr, protector against earthquakes—a cult particularly felt in the Central Apennines where the memory of seismic events is vivid. In Sigillo, the two commemorations are not separate: they merge into a single cycle of festivities that occupies a good part of the month, with the main religious functions concentrated in the final days of late August.

Ancient rites and popular tradition

Those who arrive in Sigillo find a mix typical of Apennine patronal festivals: solemn liturgies, a procession of the statue through the village alleys, devotional songs, and customs of very ancient origin, which local scholars trace back to a pre-Christian substratum. Around the religious core, the civil part develops, managed by the Festivities Committee, which renews itself every year and raises funds with the historic charity lottery named after the two patrons, with the winning numbers also published on the Municipality of Posta's channels.

Music and evenings in the square

The civil program is spread over a generous week and alternates dance evenings, dance orchestras, local bands, and, when the budget allows, well-known names in Italian pop music. In the 2025 edition, the Sigillo stage hosted the free concert by Paolo Belli and his Big Band, twelve musicians on stage for a highly popular evening. The evenings take place outdoors, with free admission, and are accompanied by food stands offering mountain cuisine from the Rieti area.

The fireworks, the most anticipated moment

The true hallmark of the Sigillo festivities is the fireworks display on the final evening. The layout of the village, nestled between the hills, multiplies the scenic and acoustic effect of the show: it is a tradition the inhabitants are particularly proud of and which, according to local chronicles, has no equal in the entire Velino Valley. The last two days are dedicated to religious ceremonies and this grand finale that closes the village's summer.

The context: Posta and the upper Velino Valley

The Municipality of Posta is a small mountain center in the province of Rieti, rich in hamlets that each maintain their own calendar of festivals: Saint Anthony Abbot in Bacugno in January, Saint Mary of the Snows on August 5th, Saint Roch in Villa Camponeschi, Saint Joseph of Leonessa in Favischio, as well as the Porcini Mushroom Festival and the Saint Lucy Fair in December. The Sigillo festivities are the most spectacular event in this calendar and represent an excellent opportunity to discover a little-trodden corner of Lazio, amidst nature, trails, and genuine cuisine.

Why it's worth the trip

• Authenticity: a festival made by residents for residents, without tourist filters.
• Fireworks display among the most renowned in the province of Rieti.
• Free admission to all evenings in the square.
• Landscape: the Velino Gorges, waterfalls, and trails of the Rieti Apennines just minutes away.
• Gastronomy: mountain dishes, porcini mushrooms, local cured meats, and cheeses.