Festa di Sant'Agata

A Mountain Festival in Valvarrone

The Festa di Sant'Agata is the patronal festival of Tremenico, a small hamlet in the municipality of Valvarrone, in the upper province of Lecco, at the foot of the mountains dividing Valsassina from Valtellina. A celebration that for generations has brought the community together in early February, combining religious rites, popular traditions, and convivial moments in a heated venue at the sports center.

The Procession and the Burning of the Balloon

The heart of the festival is the procession that starts from the small church of San Carlo, at the edge of the village: accompanied by the musical band, it parades with banners, crosses, the traditional cilostri (a type of basketwork headgear), and the statue of Saint Agatha, carried by women dressed in traditional costume. At the start of the solemn Mass, the ritual of burning the balloon is performed, a symbol of the saint's martyrdom on the gridiron, an anticipated and identity-defining moment for the entire community.

Conviviality and Culture

Alongside the religious services, the festival offers dinners, community lunches, bingo, and dancing evenings with an orchestra. The "Cantar di Pietra" museum is also open during the festival days. An event that keeps the identity of Tremenico and Valvarrone alive, in Lombardy, among the most authentic traditions of the Lecco area.