Festival of the Holy Relics in Alba Fucens

A centuries-old tradition among the ruins of Alba Fucens

The Festival of the Holy Relics, also known as the Festival of the Great Relics, is celebrated every year on Easter Monday (the Monday after Easter) in Alba Fucens, a picturesque village in the municipality of Massa d'Albe, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo Marsica. At the foot of Mount Velino, among the famous ruins of the ancient Roman and Italic city, this festival has its roots in the Middle Ages and is one of the most deeply felt in the entire Marsican area.

The Treasure of Alba Fucens and the relics

At the center of the celebration is the precious Treasure of Alba Fucens, traditionally donated by the Angevin queen Giovanna d'Angiò, who was captivated by these places. The treasure included the famous Triptych—a refined artifact combining painting, sculpture, goldsmithing, and miniature work—along with a silver cross of the four evangelists, relics of the Holy Cross, and numerous sacred furnishings. After the devastating 1915 Marsica earthquake, which destroyed the ancient village, the most important reliquaries were moved to Rome and later to the Castello Piccolomini in Celano, where the Triptych is now kept in the Museum of Sacred Art of Marsica. About thirty minor relics remain in Alba Fucens, serving as the focal point of the procession.

The day's events

The festival begins early in the morning with traditional fireworks, the laying of a wreath for the fallen, and Holy Mass. The highlight is the solemn procession: starting from the parish church of San Nicola, the parade with the statues of the venerated saints and the reliquaries travels along an ancient Roman road to the church of San Pietro, where the main service is held. After the homily, the solemn blessing with the Holy Relics is imparted. The procession then returns to San Nicola, accompanied by further pyrotechnic displays.

• Fireworks at the opening and closing
• Holy Mass and blessing with the relics
• Procession along the ancient Roman road between San Nicola and San Pietro
• Traditional games in the square in the afternoon, with music and dancing

The 'festaroli' and the Small Relics

Preparation for the festival begins months in advance: on December 26th, the day of the Small Relics, the names of the festaroli are drawn by lot—the custodians tasked with organizing and carrying out the Festival of the Great Relics on the following Easter Monday. This bond between devotion, community, and memory makes the festival a true identity heritage of Massa d'Albe and the entire Abruzzo region.

An event awaited throughout the Marsica

The Festival of the Holy Relics is not just a religious appointment, but a moment of strong appeal for the entire community and numerous visitors from neighboring towns, who reach Alba Fucens every year to witness the procession among the archaeological ruins. The unique setting of the site, one of the most important in Abruzzo, combined with the antiquity of the rite, makes this day an unforgettable experience for those who love popular traditions and the historical and spiritual heritage of the Abruzzo region.