Fucarazzo of Saint Sebastian

The Fucarazzo of Saint Sebastian, the fire that purifies Capri

Every year, around January 20th, the famous Piazzetta of Capri—officially Piazza Umberto I—becomes the stage for one of the island's most evocative rituals: the Fucarazzo of Saint Sebastian, a large bonfire lit at the foot of the bell tower. It is more than just a celebration; it is the revival of a popular tradition that the Municipality of Capri, in the province of Naples, has restored to the community after decades of silence.

The origins: the plague of 1656

The history of the Fucarazzo dates back to 1656, when the plague devastated the island of Capri, decimating a population reduced to just a few hundred inhabitants. The clothing and belongings of the deceased were burned to stop the contagion, and the survivors built a chapel dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the protector of plague victims. Since then, on the Saint's feast day, a large fire with deep purifying significance has been lit in the square, symbolizing liberation from evil and rebirth.

A ritual recovered after nearly thirty years

After being sporadically revived at the end of the 20th century (1989 and 1998), the Fucarazzo had gradually disappeared from island life. Its rebirth in 2025, after about 27 years, is part of the municipal administration's project to recover orally transmitted popular traditions. Today, the ritual involves various local entities: the CNGEI Scout Group of the Island of Capri, the Piedigrotta Tiberiana Committee, and the Civil Protection.

A fire that unites the community

The heart of the event is the lighting of the bonfire, which in recent years has taken the form of a star whose points represent the cardinal directions, around which the entire Capri community gathers. With roasted chestnuts, sausage sandwiches, folk music, and the opportunity to toss small pieces of natural wood into the flames as a sign of renewal, the Fucarazzo is now an event that weaves together faith, historical memory, and conviviality in the heart of the Campania islands. A winter ritual that, far from summer tourism, reveals the most authentic and communal face of Capri.