Festival of Saint Petronilla and Saint Anthony

The May festivities in Acciano

At the end of May, the village of Acciano, in the province of L'Aquila, experiences its most heartfelt days of the year with the Festival of Saint Petronilla and Saint Anthony. Perched on a rocky spur between the mountains and overlooking the Aterno Valley, within the Sirente Velino Regional Nature Park, this small Abruzzo municipality of a few hundred inhabitants gathers around its protector in a celebration that weaves together religious devotion, folk traditions, and a sense of community.

Saint Petronilla, protector of Acciano

The cult of Saint Petronilla in Acciano has very ancient roots: documentary evidence dates back at least to the 12th century, while the sanctuary dedicated to her preserves a 16th-century structure. The Sanctuary of Saint Petronilla is located a few hundred meters from the town, along the mountainside, and is the destination of the pilgrimage that gathers the local population and the many Accianesi who return to the village for the occasion every year.

Two days of devotion

The festivities are spread over two days. The eve is dedicated to Saint Anthony, with a procession accompanied by liturgical choirs towards the sanctuary and the celebration of solemn vespers. The patron saint's day is marked by the pilgrimage, a solemn mass celebrated by the Archbishop of L'Aquila, the blessing of the relics, and a procession with the statue of the Saint carried on shoulders through the streets of the village, to the rhythm of marching bands from neighboring towns.

The twinning with Assoro

A distinctive feature of the Acciano festival is the historic bond with Assoro, in Sicily, a city that shares the devotion to Saint Petronilla with Acciano. Every year, a Sicilian delegation participates in the festivities, bringing with them a relic of the Saint: a twinning that unites two geographically distant communities, bonded by the same faith.

Festival and community

Alongside the religious moments, there is no shortage of social gatherings: the evening lights up with live music and a fireworks display that illuminates the sky of the Aterno Valley. For Acciano, as for many villages in inland Abruzzo, the patronal festival is also an opportunity to meet, strengthen ties, and rediscover the identity of an authentic territory, nestled between the Sirente mountains and the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo vineyards.