Feast of the Patron Saints San Crescenzio and Sant'Anna

A dual patronal feast in the heart of Irpinia

Zungoli, a small town in the Province of Avellino, Campania, hosts one of the most heartfelt patronal feasts in the Ufita Valley. There are two protectors here: San Crescenzio, whose feast day falls on July 19th, and Sant'Anna, the town's patron saint, celebrated on July 26th. These two dates, close together, turn the latter part of the month into a long period of devotion, gatherings, and music in this village perched at 657 meters, which is part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club.

The religious calendar

Spiritual preparation follows a long-standing tradition: a triduum in honor of San Crescenzio and a novena dedicated to Sant'Anna precede the two solemn days. On July 19th, the community gathers at the Mother Church of Santa Maria Assunta on Via Provinciale for the evening celebration dedicated to San Crescenzio. On July 26th, the day is marked by several liturgical moments: morning masses, the solemn mass presided over by the Bishop, the Holy Rosary in the afternoon, and in the evening, the procession with the statues of the two patron saints through the alleys of the historic center, accompanied by the brass band.

The secular program: Music in Piazza Castello

Alongside the rites is the secular program, the moment when the town truly fills up. The stage is set up in Piazza Castello, at the foot of the 11th-century Norman castle that dominates the medieval village, and it hosts different acts every year: recent editions have featured singer-songwriters, rock bands, orchestras, and popular entertainers. During the day, the brass band parades through the streets and squares with its repertoire, while around midnight, fireworks conclude the solemn part of the feast, followed by a DJ set that keeps the party going late into the night.

Why it is so important for Zungoli

With fewer than a thousand inhabitants, Zungoli experiences the Feast of the Patron Saints as its strongest identity-defining event: it is the day when the community is reunited, and the sense of belonging to the town becomes tangible. The elements that make up the fabric of the event are always the same, passed down from generation to generation:

• dawn cannon fire, a sort of collective wake-up call announcing the feast day;
• luminarie (decorative lights) and decorated streets, with the bridge at the entrance to the village illuminated;
• market stalls along the procession route;
• the return of emigrants and those living elsewhere, who plan their holidays specifically around these dates;
• the brass band parading through the town, the soundtrack of the day.

The village that hosts the feast

It is worth arriving a few hours early to visit Zungoli. Beneath the historic center, the famous tufa caves of Byzantine origin, excavated between the 9th and 10th centuries, span three levels and have been used for centuries as cellars and places for aging cheese. Above, the Norman castle with its cylindrical towers tells the feudal history of the Ufita Valley, while the stone alleys and carved portals offer the image of a perfectly preserved village.

The rest of the Zungoli summer

The patronal feast kicks off a rich summer season: the Pro Loco Zungoli APS organizes events in the following weeks such as the "Al Chiaro di Luppolo" Beer Festival, the Cheeses under the Stars tasting on the night of San Lorenzo, and the Chiccozza Festival, dedicated to a traditional local dish and accompanied by pizzica, tarantella, and tammurriata music. Those who choose July for the Patron Saints' feast will find a village already in full summer mode, with the historic center animated until September.

Useful information in brief

Religious events and concerts in Piazza Castello have free admission. The detailed program for each edition, including times and guests, is released by the Municipality of Zungoli and the Santa Maria Assunta Parish in the days leading up to the feast: it is advisable to check it before traveling, as names and times may change from year to year.