Festa di San Vio

A centuries-old devotion

In Marano Lagunare, an ancient fishing village overlooking the lagoon of Friuli Venezia Giulia, faith and community identity have been intertwined for centuries in the Festa di San Vio. The patron saint, San Vito Martire (venerated alongside co-patrons Modesto and Crescenzia), is at the center of a tradition whose certain information dates back to 1362, documented by inscriptions on reliquaries. Festivities lasting several days have been attested since the 1500s, with lagoon processions that still move the community today.

The boat procession on the lagoon

The most evocative moment of the festival is the boat procession: on the Sunday of the festival, starting from the Pieve (parish church) accompanied by the town band, the faithful reach the cemetery in the lagoon. Devotees board fishing boats to reach the center of the lagoon, where the solemn blessing of the waters takes place, a gesture that inextricably links the Marano community to its sea. The solemn masses in the Pieve, with the chanting of the Morning Lauds and Litanies in the patriarchal tone, preserve the liturgical depth of the Aquileian tradition.

The Palio Remiero de San Vio

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival has a sporting and popular heart: the Palio Remiero de San Vio, a rowing race between the village districts organized by the Voga Maranese association at the Molo della Vecchia Pescheria (Old Fish Market Pier). A rowing challenge that ignites local pride and gathers the entire community along the banks. There are also food and wine stalls, live music, and the traditional Pal de la Cucagna (greased pole climbing contest).

The heart of Marano

Organized by the parish community with the support of local associations and the Archdiocese of Udine, the Festa di San Vio is much more than a religious observance: it is the moment when Marano Lagunare reaffirms its identity as a seaside village, suspended between faith, tradition, and lagoon life. An event that tells the most authentic soul of maritime Friuli.