Festival of Saint Antoninus the Abbot (Patron Saint of Sorrento)
Sorrento's patron saint celebration featuring a nine-day novena, a silver statue procession, and a traditional plant fair
About Festival of Saint Antoninus
The patronal festival that brings Sorrento to a standstill
February 14th in Sorrento is no ordinary day. In this town on the Sorrento Peninsula, in the province of Naples and the Campania region, the Festival of Saint Antoninus the Abbot is a blend of religious solemnity, civic celebration, and a core expression of local identity: businesses close, streets are lined with market stalls, and the entire city converges on the Pontifical Basilica dedicated to the patron saint, located in Piazza Sant'Antonino, just a short walk from Piazza Tasso.
Saint Antoninus the Abbot, the city's saint
A Benedictine monk linked to the Abbey of Montecassino and originally from Campagna in the Salerno area, Antoninus found refuge in Sorrento, where tradition holds he died on February 14, 625. His remains rest in the crypt of the basilica: during the festival, thousands of faithful descend into the crypt to pray before the relics, be anointed with blessed oil, and observe the votive offerings, which bear witness to centuries of popular devotion. The saint is also linked to the famous legend of a child saved by a whale, commemorated by the whale bone displayed outside the church.
The novena, the days of preparation
The festival is not confined to a single day. In the days leading up to February 14th, the basilica hosts the novena, with daily prayer and catechesis sessions: a morning rosary and holy mass, followed in the late afternoon by the rosary, the litanies of Saint Antoninus, the Eucharistic celebration, and Eucharistic benediction. It is a more quiet and intimate time, attended primarily by locals, which precedes the popular explosion of the day of the solemnity.
The procession of the silver statue
The most anticipated moment is the procession that winds through the historic center on the morning of February 14th. The venerated silver effigy of the saint, a 1574 masterpiece attributed to the goldsmith Scipione di Costanzo, emerges from the basilica's portal, carried on the shoulders of the sailors of Marina Piccola, accompanied by confraternities, clergy, civil and military authorities, and a dense crowd. The first masses begin before dawn, at 5 AM, and continue throughout the day until the final celebration and the singing of the Te Deum.
The plant fair and market stalls
Alongside the liturgical dimension, there is the popular festival. Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, Piazza Lauro, and the streets of the center fill with stalls and, above all, the traditional plant fair: fruit trees, citrus plants, and garden seedlings, symbols of rebirth and a deep connection to the land in a territory that is historically agricultural as well as maritime. It is the occasion when families of the Sorrento Peninsula purchase plants for their gardens, amidst the scents, colors, and the lively chatter of the market.
The Antoninian Jubilee and the 1400th Anniversary
Between 2025 and 2026, the festival took on exceptional significance: the city celebrated the 14th centenary of the passing of Saint Antoninus and the centenary of the church's elevation to a Pontifical Basilica. The basilica was designated a jubilee church, and a long calendar of events—historical conferences, exhibitions, concerts, the devotional path connecting Castellammare di Stabia to Sorrento, and the transfers of the statue to neighboring towns—accompanied the entire Antoninian year, which concluded with the festival on February 14, 2026.
When to go and what to expect
- Fixed date: February 14th, with the novena in the preceding days (if the date coincides with Ash Wednesday, the solemnity may be moved to the following day, as happened in 2024).
- Key times: First masses at dawn, procession in the late morning, final celebration with the Te Deum.
- Free access: All celebrations, the procession, and the fair are free of charge.
- Traffic warning: The Municipality of Sorrento implements a traffic plan every year with restricted traffic zones (ZTL) and parking bans in the city center.
- Season: February is low season on the Sorrento Peninsula, an excellent time to discover Sorrento without the summer crowds.
Festival of Saint Antoninus — edition 2026
A February 14th to remember
For Sorrento, 2026 represented the culmination of an entire Antoninian year. The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Antoninus the Abbot, designated as a jubilee church, hosted a packed calendar of celebrations from February 5th to 14th that united the local community and the entire Archdiocese of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia.
The novena marked the days of the vigil with daily prayer, catechesis, and Eucharistic celebrations. On Saturday, February 7th, the sacred music concert Mystica symbolically closed the Antoninian Jubilee, while on Friday, February 13th, the diocesan jubilee of priests took place, presided over by Monsignor Erio Castellucci, Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola, with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
On Saturday, February 14th, the day of the solemnity, the city awoke before dawn: the first masses at 5 AM, then at 9:30 AM the exit of the 1574 silver statue carried on the shoulders of the sailors of Marina Piccola. Upon the return of the procession, the final celebration presided over by Archbishop Francesco Alfano concluded with the closing of the Jubilee Door and the singing of the Te Deum. In the streets, as per tradition, the plant fair and market stalls accompanied the entire day.
Programme Festival of Saint Antoninus 2026
Novena - February 5th to 13th, 2026
- 8:45 AM: Rosary and Holy Mass
- 5:30 PM: Rosary, Litanies of Saint Antoninus, Eucharistic celebration, and Eucharistic benediction
- Daily catechesis moments in the basilica
Saturday, February 7th
- After the afternoon mass: Mystica concert, concluding the Antoninian Jubilee
Friday, February 13th
- Diocesan jubilee of priests, presided over by Mons. Erio Castellucci, Archbishop of Modena-Nonantola
- Unveiling of the commemorative plaque for the 14th centenary
- From 7 AM: Setup of market stalls and the fair in the city center
Saturday, February 14th - Solemnity of Saint Antoninus the Abbot
- Holy masses at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 13:00, and 18:00
- 9:30 AM: Exit of the 1574 silver statue from the basilica portal and procession through the city streets, carried by the sailors of Marina Piccola with confraternities and civil/military authorities
- Around 11:00 AM, upon the return of the procession: Solemn final Eucharistic celebration presided over by Mons. Francesco Alfano, Archbishop of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia, with the closing of the Jubilee Door and the singing of the Te Deum
- All day: Visit to the crypt with the saint's relics, anointing with blessed oil, plant fair, and market stalls on Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, and Piazza Sant'Antonino
Traffic
Sorrento Municipality traffic plan for February 13th and 14th: Parking bans on Piazza Sant'Antonino, Corso Italia (between Piazza Tasso and Via Capasso), Viale Caruso, Viale Montariello, Piazza Tasso, Piazza Veniero, and Piazza Lauro; ZTL on Corso Italia between Piazza Tasso and Via De Curtis from 6 AM Friday until midnight Saturday, and on Parco Tasso, Via Correale, and Via Marziale from 7 AM to midnight on both days.
Highlights Festival of Saint Antoninus 2026
- Conclusion of the Jubilee year for the 1400th anniversary of the passing of Saint Antoninus and the centenary of the elevation to Pontifical Basilica
- Procession of the 1574 silver statue carried by the sailors of Marina Piccola
- Mystica sacred music concert on February 7th
- Diocesan jubilee of priests with Mons. Erio Castellucci
- Closing of the Jubilee Door and singing of the Te Deum
- Plant fair and market stalls in the historic center
Prices Festival of Saint Antoninus 2026
Practical information — Festival of Saint Antoninus
How to get there
By train: The EAV Circumvesuviana line (Naples-Sorrento) connects Naples Porta Nolana and Garibaldi to the Sorrento terminus, just a few minutes' walk from the basilica. By car: Take the SS145 Sorrentina state road from the Castellammare di Stabia motorway exit (A3); paid parking is available on the outskirts, and the center is closed to traffic during the festival days. By sea: Hydrofoils and ferries from Naples Beverello, Capri, Ischia, and Positano dock at Marina Piccola. By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, with direct buses to Sorrento.
Times and tickets
All celebrations are free and open to the public. The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Antoninus the Abbot in Piazza Sant'Antonino and the crypt containing the saint's relics are freely accessible during the festival days.
Traffic and mobility
During the festival, the Municipality of Sorrento establishes restricted traffic zones and parking bans on Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, Piazza Sant'Antonino, Piazza Lauro, Piazza Veniero, Viale Caruso, and Viale Montariello. It is best to leave your car outside the center and explore on foot.
Tips
Arrive early on the morning of February 14th to witness the statue being carried out of the basilica portal. It is low season, but it is still recommended to book accommodation in advance, as many hotels on the Sorrento Peninsula reopen specifically for the festival.
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Where does it take place — Festival of Saint Antoninus
Basilica Pontificia di Sant'Antonino Abate
Piazza Sant'Antonino, 80067 Sorrento