Festival of Santa Maria del Castello, Queen of the Matese

A Marian devotion that has united the Matese since 1880

The Festival of Santa Maria del Castello, Queen of the Matese is the most cherished patronal feast in Letino, a small mountain village in the Province of Caserta nestled within the Matese Regional Park, in the heart of inland Campania. Celebrated every year on the third Sunday of September, the event has its roots in a tradition documented since 1880, passed down from generation to generation by the parish community of San Giovanni Battista.

The legend of the recovered statue

According to popular lore, the statue of the Madonna was spotted by a shepherd from Gallo among the bushes and later found its home in the church of the Letino castle. Around this Marian image, proclaimed Queen of the Matese, a deep bond has been built over the centuries between the towns of the district, with historical episodes of rivalry between Letino and neighboring Gallo Matese over the possession of the venerated effigy.

The Sanctuary of the Castle

The spiritual heart of the festival is the Sanctuary of Maria SS. del Castello, housed within the ancient medieval castle of Letino, a structure that some sources date back to the 13th century, with 18th-century modifications. The statue of the Virgin, of particular beauty, is jealously guarded here and brought back in procession at the end of the festivities, amidst torches, candles, and prayers.

Processions and traditional costumes

The most evocative moment is the procession: on Saturday afternoon, the women of Letino accompany the statue along the steep and rugged path that connects the fortress to the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, in Piazza della Repubblica, invoking protection against illness, heavy rains, and drought. On Sunday morning, the town procession winds through the streets with the participation of the faithful from Letino, Gallo, Fontegreca, Capriati, and surrounding areas. Making the pageant unique are the women of Letino and Gallo Matese in traditional costumes—the wedding attire—worn as a sign of homage and offering to the Madonna.

Faith and identity of a Matese village

More than just a religious feast, the event represents a pillar of the identity of Letino and the Municipality: an occasion where the small community of the Campania Region reconnects with its roots, amidst Marian devotion, sacred chants, popular traditions, and the pristine landscapes of the Matese. For the visitor, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Campanian Apennines, where popular faith and mountain folklore remain alive and intact.