Festival of Saint Felicity and Her Seven Martyred Sons

The patronal feast of Collarmele

The Festival of Saint Felicity and Her Seven Martyred Sons is the most cherished event of the year for Collarmele, a small village of just under 800 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 835 meters in the Marsica area, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo. Every year, on July 9th and 10th, the village gathers around its patron saint in a celebration that weaves together faith, tradition, and community spirit.

Saint Felicity, patron of the village

Saint Felicity and her seven sons, who according to Christian tradition were martyred in Rome, are venerated as the protectors of the Collarmele community. The parish church dedicated to them, completed in 1940 under the guidance of Father Gaetano Del Grosso and inaugurated on the saint's feast day, is the focal point of the celebrations. From here, the solemn procession carrying the statue of the patron saint begins, winding through the streets of the historic center accompanied by the faithful and the ringing of church bells.

Two days of devotion and celebration

On the eve of the festival, July 9th, the bells call the community to mass and the first procession, while the evening continues with music and fireworks. July 10th is the highlight: in the morning, the statue of the saint is carried in procession again, while the afternoon comes alive with events for children, market stalls along the village streets, and musical performances. The festival traditionally concludes with a grand fireworks display that illuminates the sky over the Marsica region.

A village between history and nature

Collarmele has its roots in the ancient Cerfennia, a Roman station along the Via Valeria, and preserves the memory of the devastating 1915 Marsica earthquake, which shaped its reconstruction. Surrounded by the Sirente-Velino Regional Park and close to the great Abruzzo parks, the village offers visitors a stunning natural setting. The patronal feast represents the moment when the village rediscovers its most authentic identity, also drawing back many former residents who return to relive their timeless traditions.