Festa di San Secondo (Sagra della Castagnola)

San Secondo and the castagnola

The Festa di San Secondo is celebrated in Ventimiglia every August 26th, the day dedicated to the saint. Alongside the patron saint's festivities, the Sagra della Castagnola is organized by the Ciassa district in Piazza della Cattedrale, in the heart of the old town. The castagnola is the typical dessert that is the star of the festival, recognized as a De.Co. (Denominazione Comunale - Municipal Designation) product, safeguarding local gastronomic tradition.

A long-standing sagra

The Sagra della Castagnola is a historic event: in 2024 it reached its 47th edition, in 2025 its 48th, continuing its long annual tradition. Organized by the Ciassa district — one of Ventimiglia's historic districts that also animates the Medieval August festival — the sagra is an expression of neighborhood pride and the bond between the community and its traditional recipes.

Festival in the historic center

The setting is the evocative atmosphere of Ventimiglia Alta, the medieval hilltop town, with its alleys and cathedral. The festival combines food stalls with castagnola and other specialties, music, and the ambiance of the patron saint's festival, on an August evening that draws residents and tourists to the historic center.

Ventimiglia and its districts

The districts of Ventimiglia, with their good-natured rivalry and deep roots in the historic neighborhoods, form the living fabric of the city's traditions. The Sagra della Castagnola of the Ciassa district is one of the moments when this identity is expressed outside of the Medieval August festival, in the spirit of taste and village celebration.