Festival of the Madonna di Costantinopoli and Saint Erasmus (Cascano)

The most anticipated event of the year in Cascano

In Cascano, a populous village in the municipality of Sessa Aurunca in the province of Caserta, the festival in honor of Maria Santissima di Costantinopoli and Saint Erasmus has always been the highlight of the local calendar. It is more than just a religious observance; it is an occasion when the entire community—including families who live far away and return specifically for the event—gathers in the streets and squares for days of celebration, music, and conviviality. Organizers describe it as "a central moment of faith, tradition, and sharing," a sentiment that perfectly captures the spirit of the festival.

Two protectors, one shared devotion

The cult is rooted in the Church of Saint Erasmus, an ancient building in Cascano. A church dedicated to the saint is mentioned in sources as early as the 11th century, while the current structure dates back to the 16th century and houses artworks including a fine, anonymous 17th-18th century Last Supper. Alongside Saint Erasmus, traditionally invoked against storms, the village venerates the Madonna di Costantinopoli: a dual patronage typical of this part of northern Campania, bordering the lower Lazio region. Today, the festivities are managed by the San Giuseppe Parish in Cascano and its organizing committee.

The religious aspect: novena, Mass, and procession

The spiritual preparation begins well before the main days. The novena takes place in the parish with the recitation of the rosary in the late afternoon and evening services, accompanying the faithful until the eve of the feast. The liturgical heart is the solemn Mass, followed by the procession with the statues of the two patrons through the streets of the village—a parade that winds through the town, stops in front of decorated homes, and involves confraternities, children receiving their first communion, and a brass band.

The civic program: concerts, fanfares, and pyrotechnics

The devotional dimension is complemented by a civic program that has become increasingly rich in recent years. The evenings in the square host local bands, cover bands, brass concerts, and high-profile guests. The Cascano stage has hosted well-known names in Italian music over the years, and there is always a performance by the Carabinieri brass band or a symphonic band, much loved by the public. The grand finale is the fireworks display at midnight, which lights up the sky over the village and marks the end of the festivities.

Piazza Roma, the heart of the festival

Most events are concentrated in Piazza Roma, the main public space of the village, where the war memorial—a broken column topped by an eagle, a 20th-century work from a central-southern workshop—is located. During the festival, a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen of all wars takes place here, a civic ceremony that accompanies the religious one and is now an integral part of the program.

Cascano and the Aurunci territory

Cascano lies on the plain at the foot of the Roccamonfina massif, along the route connecting Sessa Aurunca to the Gulf of Gaeta coast. The village has a long artisanal tradition linked to clay working: the ancient local clay pits fueled the workshops of potters and ceramicists, so much so that an 18th-century pastoral visit documented the payments that potters made to the church. Visitors can easily combine the festival with a trip to the historic center of Sessa Aurunca, with its Romanesque cathedral, Roman theater, and the Aurunci bridge, or a stop at the nearby Roccamonfina - Foce Garigliano Regional Park.

What to expect

This is an authentic village festival, deeply felt and without tourist filters: illuminated streets, people out until late at night, reunited families, market stalls, and the scent of traditional sweets. Admission to events in the square and religious celebrations is free, and the atmosphere is that of a community—increasingly rare—telling its own story through its patron saints.