Festa Patronale di San Gaudenzio

The feast of the patron saint of Ostra

San Gaudenzio is the patron saint of Ostra, a small hilltop village in the Valmisa in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. His feast day, set for October 14th, has been the most anticipated event of the year for the community for generations: a day when the religious and civil dimensions merge, involving the entire historic center enclosed within the ancient walls of the village.

Religious moments

The celebrations begin with a preparatory triduum in the preceding days, with Eucharistic adoration, a penitential Mass, and a Mass for the sick in the Church of San Francesco. The patron saint's day includes the morning Holy Mass at San Francesco and, in the late afternoon, the solemn Mass in the piazza with the image of the Saint, followed by the Blessing of the City and the procession through the streets of the center. The Mayor with the Gonfalone and the municipal administration, the confraternities of the parishes, and the "Ovidio Bartoletti" Civic Music Band of Ostra participate in the rite, accompanying the procession.

The Tombola di San Gaudenzio

The civil heart of the feast is the Tombola di San Gaudenzio, organized by Pro Loco Ostra APS with the patronage of the Municipality. It is a very long-standing tradition: an archival document recalls that as early as October 14, 1846, a grand tombola was held in Ostra to celebrate the patron saint and the election of Pope Pius IX. Today, the drawing takes place in Piazza dei Martiri and usually attracts over a thousand players from Ostra and neighboring towns, with rich cash prizes. The evening is enlivened by games that have become classics, such as "Il Mostro" and the quiz "Vinci con la Vita" (Win with Life) offered by the local sections of AVIS and AIDO.

Activities, entertainment, and fair

In the morning, the historic center comes alive with the children from Ostra's schools, who are the protagonists of an impromptu painting competition. After the procession, next to the Civic Tower, "San Gaudenzio Insieme" (San Gaudenzio Together) takes place, with entertainment, games, and creative workshops for families and children. The celebrations conclude with the fair that occupies the streets of the village the following weekend, with stalls, typical products, and handicrafts. The Festa Patronale di San Gaudenzio thus remains, year after year, the event that best tells the identity of the Municipality of Ostra and the bond of its people with their roots.