Great Fire of Saint Anthony Abbot
The bonfire of tradition that lights up the winter of Pescopennataro
About Fire of Saint Anthony
The Rite of Fire
As in many Apennine villages, the feast of Saint Anthony Abbot is linked to the rite of fire also in Pescopennataro, in the province of Isernia. On January 16th, in Piazza del Popolo, the large bonfire that gives the event its name is lit: the flame, a symbol of purification and protection, becomes the meeting and sharing point for the entire community in the heart of winter.
Flavors of Molise Winter
Around the fire, typical local dishes are tasted: pork rind and beans, polenta pizza with cracklings, soppressata, pork and liver sausage, accompanied by wine. It is the peasant cuisine of Alto Molise, made of simple and hearty dishes, perfect for warming up cold January evenings in one of the highest municipalities in the region.
Pescopennataro, Village of Stone
Nestled in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and famous for its stone craftsmanship and the fir trees of the surrounding woods, Pescopennataro offers a suggestive setting for the Fire of Saint Anthony. The evening concludes with the eagerly awaited lottery draw, which adds a touch of popular festivity to one of the most heartfelt winter traditions of the town.
Fire of Saint Anthony — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Great Fire of Saint Anthony Abbot took place in Pescopennataro on January 16th in Piazza del Popolo. The day began at 6:00 PM with the lighting of the large bonfire, the central moment of the feast; at 8:00 PM, a tasting of local typical products followed — pork rind and beans, polenta pizza with cracklings, soppressata, pork and liver sausage — and at 11:00 PM, the lottery draw was held, concluding an evening of strong popular participation.
Programme Fire of Saint Anthony 2026
- 6:00 PM — Lighting of the Great Fire of Saint Anthony Abbot in Piazza del Popolo
- 8:00 PM — Tasting of local typical products (pork rind and beans, polenta pizza with cracklings, soppressata, pork and liver sausage)
- 11:00 PM — Lottery draw
Highlights Fire of Saint Anthony 2026
Prices Fire of Saint Anthony 2026
Practical information — Fire of Saint Anthony
How to get there
Pescopennataro can be reached by car via the provincial roads of Alto Molise, in a mountainous area bordering Abruzzo. The nearest train station is Isernia, from which you continue by car. In winter, check road conditions for snow.
When
The Great Fire of Saint Anthony Abbot is held on January 16th in Piazza del Popolo, usually with the lighting of the bonfire in the late afternoon. Free admission.
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Where does it take place — Fire of Saint Anthony
Piazza del Popolo, Pescopennataro