The village festival in the shadow of the ancient Cistercian abbey
In Abbadia Cerreto, a tiny municipality in the Province of Lodi in Lombardy, the patronal festival of Maria Santissima Assunta is much more than a religious recurrence: it is the moment when the village rediscovers its identity. Everything here starts from the abbey, founded in 1084 as a Benedictine monastery and in 1131 entrusted to the Cistercian monks, who made it a spiritual and agricultural center of great importance for the entire Lodi plain. The dedication to the Virgin Assunta dates back to those centuries and has accompanied the life of the community ever since.
The patron saint is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday of September, even though the liturgical solemnity of the Assumption falls on August 15th. The choice of the first Sunday of the month allows the entire village to come together after the summer, on a day dedicated to faith and community.
The heart of the festival is the celebration in the ancient abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul, one of the most notable examples of Romanesque architecture in the Lodi region, with its imposing terracotta structure. Around the liturgy revolve the moments of sociality that have always accompanied the festivals of the Po Valley villages: the procession, the gatherings, the stalls, and the sharing among the village families.
Visiting Abbadia Cerreto during the festival also means discovering one of the hidden gems of rural Lombardy: the abbey complex, the tranquility of the Lodi countryside, and a tradition that resists time. For the detailed program of the 2026 edition, it is advisable to contact the Municipality or follow the parish channels.
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be communicated by the Municipality and the parish in the weeks preceding the festival. As per tradition, the core of the day is the religious celebration in the Romanesque abbey, accompanied by the procession and the convivial moments of the village.
Program coming soon. The festival, according to tradition, includes the solemn mass dedicated to Maria SS. Assunta in the abbey of San Pietro e San Paolo, followed by the procession through the village streets and moments of conviviality for the community.
The solemn mass and procession in the Cistercian abbey, the spiritual and historical heart of Abbadia Cerreto.
Abbadia Cerreto can be reached by car from the SP for Lodi, a few kilometers from the provincial capital. The nearest train station is Lodi, on the Milan-Bologna line, from which you can continue by car or bus.
Participation in the celebrations is free and open to all.
Municipality of Abbadia Cerreto, Via dell'Abbazia 7 โ tel. 0371 72235.
No photos yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community.
Abbazia di San Pietro e San Paolo
Via dell'Abbazia 7, 26834 Abbadia Cerreto