Festa di Sant'Emidio

A centuries-old festival in the heart of Piceno

The Festa di Sant'Emidio is the most cherished event of the year for the city of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region. Saint Emidius, bishop and martyr of the 4th century, is the patron saint of the city and is venerated as the protector from earthquakes: according to tradition, the violent earthquake that struck the Marche in 1703 miraculously spared Ascoli thanks to the intercession of its Protector. Since then, the city's devotion has never ceased, and the celebrations on August 5 represent the highest point of Ascolan identity.

Ten days of celebrations

The celebrations begin on July 26, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Anne, with gunshots at the tolling of the Duomo bells and the display of banners from the bell tower and the Town Hall. In the following days, the festival intertwines with the famous Quintana, the grand historical reenactment of the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno: the Offering of the Candles to the patron saint and the August Joust, dedicated to Saint Emidius himself, serve as a prelude to the solemn day.

August 5: the Patron Saint's Day

The programme for August 5 combines religious devotion and popular celebration. The day opens at dawn, around 5:30 AM, with the evocative blessing of the basil on the Cathedral parvis, an aromatic plant that symbolizes the festival. This is followed by Holy Masses in the Duomo and the solemn Pontifical Mass in the late morning. In the afternoon, the procession in honour of the patron saint takes place through the streets of the historic centre, with the participation of civil and religious authorities and the faithful.

Civil programme and fireworks display

On the civil front, the morning is dedicated to paying homage to the city authorities in Piazza Arringo and Piazza Simonetti and to the delivery of gifts to all citizens named Emidio and Emidia at the Loggiato di Palazzo Arengo. The Museum of Sant'Emidio also opens to the public at the Sant'Ilario alle Grotte complex, with guided tours of the catacombs.

• 9:00 PM – concert by the Piceno Pop Chorus in Piazza del Popolo
• 10:30 PM – folk music and dances with the group I Piceni Pizzicati at the Loggiato di Palazzo Arengo
• Midnight – drawing of the traditional Tombola di Sant'Emidio in Piazza Arringo
• Following – grand fireworks display that concludes the celebrations

The fireworks on the night of August 5 are the most anticipated and evocative moment: an open-air spectacle that each year draws spectators from all over the province of Ascoli Piceno and nearby Abruzzo, illuminating the profile of the historic centre and its medieval towers.