Festa Patronale di Santa Maria Maddalena

The patron saint's festival in Campo Ligure

The Patronal Festival of Saint Mary Magdalene is the most important event in Campo Ligure, a village in the Stura Valley in the province of Genoa, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. The patron saint is celebrated on the weekend immediately following July 22nd, with a festival that involves the entire community for several days.

The 'calata' and the procession

The deeply felt religious rite culminates in the evocative 'calata': on Saturday evening, the monumental processional reliquary—not visible during the rest of the year—is lowered from the side altar of the parish church where it is kept, and then carried in procession on Sunday afternoon through the village streets by sixteen bearers. It is one of the most exciting and identity-defining moments of Campese tradition.

Five evenings of celebration

A rich program of popular celebration unfolds around the religious rites: five evenings with food stalls, concerts, markets, and a funfair animate the village, particularly the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. The Pro Loco (local tourist board) and the community mobilize to offer residents and visitors days of music, flavors, and fun.

Campo Ligure, a jewel of the Stura Valley

Famous for its filigree tradition and its medieval village, Campo Ligure offers a setting of rare beauty for the patronal festival. Experiencing the festival of Saint Mary Magdalene means discovering the most authentic traditions of the Genoese hinterland, amidst devotion, identity, and conviviality.