Giglio Festival in honor of Saint Antimo
The wooden and papier-mâché obelisk carried on the shoulders of 128 porters in Recale
About Recale Giglio
The Recale Giglio, a 25-meter-tall shoulder-borne machine
In the municipality of Recale, a small town in the province of Caserta just a few kilometers from the Royal Palace, the Giglio Festival in honor of Saint Antimo the Martyr is the event that defines the community's entire year. The protagonist is the Giglio: a shoulder-borne machine with a pyramidal shape, about 25-26 meters tall and weighing between 3 and 3.5 tons, built using traditional Nola techniques with a frame of fir and poplar wood, chestnut bars, and a coating of painted papier-mâché. The folk architects who design it reproduce architectural orders, decorations, and episodes from the Saint's life; the structure is rebuilt periodically, every three or four years, to maintain its structural integrity and decorative quality.
Saint Antimo, patron of Recale
The devotion of Recale to Saint Antimo, priest and martyr, has been documented since at least the 19th century. The statue carried in the procession is the work of the Neapolitan master Antonio Vassallo and dates back to 1822, while the first monumental Giglio was built in May 1894 by Giovanni Sbizzuoco, who came from Nola. However, the tradition has much older roots: early Christians used to scatter flowers, particularly lilies (gigli), along the streets to welcome those returning triumphantly from a journey or exile. Century after century, those bundles of flowers tied to long poles evolved into the wooden spire that now towers over the town's houses.
The porters and the "ballata"
The emotional heart of the festival is the paranza of porters: 128 men who hoist the Giglio's bars onto their shoulders and make it advance, lift, and "dance" for about three and a half kilometers through the streets of the historic center. Every movement is directed by the head porter and set to the rhythm of the tarantella composed by maestro Luigi Salzano, performed live by the band traveling on the platform alongside the singers. Seeing the Giglio turn at the corner of a narrow street, with the statue of the Saint hoisted three meters high, is the image that the people of Recale carry with them all year round.
An intangible heritage of Campania
Since 2018, the Recale Giglio Festival has been listed in the Campania Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory (IPIC), promoted by the Region: a recognition that places the Recale ritual alongside the great shoulder-borne machine festivals of Campania, starting with the Gigli of Nola. This is not a tourist re-enactment, but a living practice, passed down from father to son, involving the parish, the committee, youth groups, schools, and local artisans.
What to experience during the festival days
- The traditional illuminations that adorn the entire historic center and Piazza Aldo Moro;
- The dawn bell-ringing and fireworks displays that announce the official opening;
- The "scarcerazione" (release) of the statue of Saint Antimo, a moment of great popular participation;
- Band concerts, popular theater by youth groups, and evening shows in the square;
- The Giglio procession on Sunday morning, with the departure of the porters;
- Stands with sweets and typical Caserta products along the route.
Recale and the Terra di Lavoro
Recale has just over seven thousand inhabitants and is located in the heart of the Terra di Lavoro, between Caserta, Marcianise, and Capodrise: a territory where patronal festivals with shoulder-borne machines, brass bands, and fireworks are still the backbone of social life. For those visiting Campania in spring, the Recale Giglio is an opportunity to observe an authentic tradition up close, far from tourist circuits and half an hour from the regional capital.
Recale Giglio — edition 2026
The 2026 Giglio Festival in Recale
The 2026 Saint Antimo Festival Committee, together with the Parrocchia Santa Maria Assunta e SS. Salvatore and with the patronage of the Municipality of Recale, created a long program, opened on May 22nd and concluded on Monday, June 8th. The historic center was decorated with traditional illuminations, while Piazza Aldo Moro hosted the evening events.
The most anticipated moment arrived on Sunday, June 7th, with the Giglio procession: the shoulder-borne machine, about 26 meters tall and weighing over 3 tons, was lifted by the 128 porters of the paranza and carried through the town's streets. The eve, Saturday, June 6th, had opened at dawn with bell-ringing and fireworks, continuing with the "scarcerazione" of the Saint Antimo statue at noon, the concert of the "Città di Bellona" Band in the afternoon, and the procession with solemn blessing in the evening.
On the organizational front, the 2026 edition was also marked by an internal transition: at the end of June, the Amici di Sant'Antimo association announced its resignation from the committee, after the festivities had already taken place regularly according to the published program.
Programme Recale Giglio 2026
Friday, June 5, 2026
- Lighting of traditional illuminations throughout the historic center
- Piazza Aldo Moro: show by the Parish Youth Groups "Recale: a living history… yesterday, today, and always", with the presentation of poetic compositions dedicated to Saint Antimo by Recale students
- Popular theater with the company "Gli amanti del teatro": three-act comedy "I figli unici"
Saturday, June 6, 2026
- At dawn: festive bell-ringing and fireworks to announce the official start of the festivities
- 12:00 PM: the "scarcerazione", with the transfer of the Saint Antimo statue
- Afternoon: concert by the "Città di Bellona" Band
- Evening: procession and solemn blessing, followed by a concert by Anthony
Sunday, June 7, 2026 — the Giglio procession
- 9:30 AM: departure of the procession with the Giglio, about 26 meters tall and weighing over 3 tons, carried on the shoulders of 128 porters
- In the evening: comedy show by Francesco Procopio
Monday, June 8, 2026
- Eucharistic celebration animated by the "Cantate Domino" choir
- Closing concert by Gianni Fiorellino
Highlights Recale Giglio 2026
- The Giglio procession on Sunday, June 7th, with the 128 porters and the dance through the historic center
- The dawn bell-ringing on Saturday, June 6th, and the opening fireworks
- The "scarcerazione" of the Saint Antimo statue at 12:00 PM on Saturday
- The concert by the "Città di Bellona" Band
- The show by the Parish Youth Groups "Recale: a living history… yesterday, today, and always"
- The comedy "I figli unici" by the "Gli amanti del teatro" company
- Evening concerts by Anthony and Gianni Fiorellino and the comedy show by Francesco Procopio
Prices Recale Giglio 2026
Practical information — Recale Giglio
How to get there
By car: Take the Caserta Sud exit from the Asse Mediano or the A1 exit at Caserta Nord, then follow signs for Recale (about 5 km from the center of Caserta). During the procession days, many streets in the center are closed to traffic: it is advisable to park in the peripheral streets and walk to Piazza Aldo Moro.
By train
Caserta Station (Rome-Naples line via Cassino and regional Campania lines), then a bus or taxi to Recale, just a few minutes away. Alternatively, the Capodrise-Recale-Marcianise stop is served by regional trains.
Admission and costs
All religious events and shows in the square are free of charge. You only pay for food stands and market stalls.
Tips
- To follow the Giglio procession, it is best to arrive early on Sunday morning: the departure is in the early hours and the town center fills up quickly.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the porters' route is over three kilometers long.
- Never obstruct the path of the porters and respect the instructions of the head porter and security staff.
- For accommodation, the widest selection is in Caserta, a few minutes' drive away, which is also convenient for visiting the Royal Palace and the Belvedere of San Leucio.
Information
Parrocchia Santa Maria Assunta e SS. Salvatore, Via Municipio 52 - 81020 Recale (CE), tel. +39 0823 460644. Updated program on the website festadelgiglio.it and the Committee's social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Recale Giglio
Piazza Aldo Moro e centro storico di Recale
Via Municipio 52, 81020 Recale