Festival in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Most Holy of Grace (Borgo San Pietro)

A village festival in the heart of the Rieti Holy Valley

The Festival in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Most Holy of Grace is the most anticipated event of the year for Borgo San Pietro, a hamlet in the municipality of Poggio Bustone, in the province of Rieti, Lazio. It takes place at the end of August around the Santi Angeli Custodi parish church, which, with its square, becomes the center of village life for a few days: this is where services are held, where the stage for the evening shows is set up, and where people gather to chat late into the night in the fresh mountain air.

Devotion and community

The core of the festival remains religious. The days are marked by celebrations in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Most Holy of Grace, with masses, prayer sessions, and a procession winding through the streets of the hamlet. This devotion is deeply rooted in the community's history: the Santi Angeli Custodi church, reopened for worship after extensive restoration supported by the residents themselves, is the symbol of a small but resilient village that rediscovers its identity during the August festival.

Evenings on the square

Alongside the liturgical events, the committee organizes evenings that make the festival a major attraction for the entire Rieti area. The parish square hosts pop and dance music concerts, tribute bands, and cabaret shows featuring well-known names from the central Italian comedy scene. In 2025, for instance, the final evening featured a concert by Export Medley in Italy followed by songs and comedy with Nduccio, in front of a packed square. There is no shortage of food stalls run by volunteers, serving traditional Sabina dishes, along with activities for children.

Poggio Bustone, the village of Saint Francis

The festival is also a great opportunity to discover Poggio Bustone, one of the most charming villages in the Rieti Holy Valley. Clinging to Monte Rosato, the town overlooks the Rieti plain and is linked to the memory of Saint Francis of Assisi, who greeted the inhabitants here with his famous «Good morning, good people»: the Franciscan Sanctuary and the Sacred Cave (Sacro Speco), reachable via a beautiful walk through the woods, are popular pilgrimage and hiking destinations. Poggio Bustone is also known as the birthplace of the singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti, commemorated by a monument in the main square.

What to expect

• Atmosphere: Familiar and genuine, typical of village festivals, without excessive crowds.
• Admission: Free for all evenings.
• Audience: Residents, vacationers, families originally from the village, and curious visitors from neighboring towns.
• Period: Late August, with open-air evenings taking advantage of the cool mountain climate.
• Features: Food stalls, live music, comedy shows, and a procession.

An intangible heritage to preserve

Festivals like this tell the story of a lesser-known Lazio, that of the Apennine hamlets where the parish is still the place for meeting. The calendar of celebrations, the commitment of the volunteers, the shared food, and the music evenings create a ritual that is passed down from generation to generation. For those visiting the province of Rieti in summer, attending the Borgo San Pietro festival means stepping, even if just for one night, into the real life of a community.