Maria Santissima di Pagani Festival
On the last Sunday of July, the Pagani district of Paupisi honors its Madonna with a procession, music, and food stalls.
About Maria SS. di Pagani Festival
A devotion born from a dream
The Maria Santissima di Pagani Festival traces its roots back to January 20, 1907, when the Virgin's effigy was unearthed by hand exactly where the Madonna had indicated in a dream to Antonio Sauchella, whose remains now rest in the Sanctuary. This discovery birthed a place of worship that, over a century later, remains a pilgrimage site and a symbol of faith passed down through generations in the Pagani district, a hamlet of Paupisi, in the province of Benevento, Campania.
Next to the Sanctuary stands the small chapel marking the exact spot of the discovery; it was recently restored, along with the historic bell tower, thanks to the efforts of the "Il Sogno" Cultural Association. Devotion is expressed twice a year: on January 20, the anniversary of the discovery, with a more intimate celebration, and on the last Sunday of July with solemn festivities that involve the entire community and draw faithful and visitors from across the Sannio region.
Five days of faith and community
The calendar begins with the preparatory triduum: for three consecutive evenings, the Holy Rosary and Holy Mass are celebrated in the Sanctuary. The religious heart of the festival, however, is Sunday, when Eucharistic celebrations follow one another from early morning until evening, accompanied by the "Santa Maria del Bosco" parish choir.
In the morning, the Madonna's effigy leaves the Sanctuary for the solemn procession through the streets and areas of the district: decorated roads, faithful in prayer, a brass band, and, upon return, the prayer of entrustment recited by the parish priest. Many locals know the traditional invocation accompanying the statue by heart—"I descended from Paradise to the foot of this Mountain..."—handed down alongside the story of the discovery.
The district's musical evenings
Alongside the liturgical program, the "Il Sogno" Cultural Association organizes a secular program of four open-air evenings each year, always with free admission. The format is well-established and beloved in the Sannio region:
- an evening of live music with local bands, often followed by DJ sets and dancing;
- an evening dedicated to Italian pop music or revival hits, with tours and themed shows;
- the main concert on Sunday, featuring a well-known name from the Italian music scene;
- the closing evening with music, dancing, and karaoke, the raffle drawing, and the pyromusical show managed by Pirotecnica Ronca Carmela.
The fireworks at the end of the festival are the highlight that gathers the largest crowd: the atmosphere is typical of Southern district festivals, with families, emigrants returning for the occasion, and visitors from neighboring towns.
Food stalls and the flavors of Sannio
Throughout the festivities, the food stall of the "Il Sogno" Association is open, serving as a symbol of the Pagani district's hospitality. The menu features Sannio specialties prepared by volunteers: traditional peasant dishes, fried foods, grilled meats, and homemade desserts, paired with local wines—Paupisi is located in the Sannio wine area, just a stone's throw from the vineyards of Torrecuso.
Paupisi, a small town in the Sannio region
Paupisi has just over 1,600 inhabitants and sits at an altitude of 320 meters, about a dozen kilometers northwest of Benevento and about fifty from Naples. The municipal territory, bordering Ponte, San Lorenzo Maggiore, Torrecuso, and Vitulano, includes the hamlets of Mandarisi, Pagani, and San Pietro la Difesa. The town's patron saint is Saint Anthony of Padua, celebrated on June 13: the Maria Santissima di Pagani festival is therefore not the town's patronal feast, but the great identity-defining festival of the district, capable of mobilizing an entire community.
Why it's worth the trip
Those looking for the authentic Italy of festivals—those organized by volunteers rather than agencies—will find a clear example in Pagani: a popular devotion documented for over a century, a sanctuary born from a dream, a program alternating liturgy and free concerts, and village cuisine served at open-air tables. It is also a great starting point for discovering the Sannio region in summer, among villages, wineries, and the Taburno-Camposauro mountains.
Maria SS. di Pagani Festival — edition 2026
Five days of celebration in the Pagani district
From July 23 to 27, 2026, the Pagani district of Paupisi (province of Benevento, Campania) experienced its most heartfelt festival, organized by the "Il Sogno" Cultural Association led by Antonio Goglia in collaboration with the Santa Maria del Bosco Parish of Father Cosimo Iadanza. An edition that fell 119 years after January 20, 1907, the date of the discovery of the Madonna's effigy.
The religious heart: Sunday, July 26
After the preparatory triduum—Holy Rosary and Holy Mass every evening at 7:00 PM from July 23 to 25—the highlight was Sunday, July 26, with Masses at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 7:00 PM animated by the "Santa Maria del Bosco" parish choir and with the solemn procession that started at 9:00 AM from the Sanctuary. Local reports described a very large turnout, with the faithful in prayer along the district streets and the prayer of entrustment recited upon the return of the effigy.
The four musical evenings
The secular program offered four evenings with free admission: Friday, July 24, live music by Onda Anomala; Saturday, July 25, the revival show "Nei '90 io c'ero – Tour 2026" dedicated to the great hits of the nineties; Sunday, July 26, the concert by singer-songwriter Massimo Di Cataldo with his "Se adesso te ne vai 1996-2026 Celebration Tour"; and Monday, July 27, the closing with the Rochitos featuring music, dancing, and karaoke, followed by the raffle drawing and the pyromusical show by Pirotecnica Ronca Carmela. Throughout the festival, the "Il Sogno" Association's food stall remained active with local specialties.
Programme Maria SS. di Pagani Festival 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Holy Rosary and Holy Mass: opening of the preparatory triduum
Friday, July 24, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Holy Rosary and Holy Mass
- 9:00 PM — Live music with Onda Anomala
Saturday, July 25, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Holy Rosary and Holy Mass
- Evening — "Nei '90 io c'ero – Tour 2026", show dedicated to the great hits of the nineties
Sunday, July 26, 2026 — Festival Day
- 8:30 AM — Holy Mass
- 9:00 AM — Solemn procession with the effigy of Maria Santissima di Pagani through the district streets, with prayer of entrustment by Father Cosimo Iadanza
- 11:00 AM — Solemn Holy Mass with the "Santa Maria del Bosco" parish choir
- 7:00 PM — Concluding Eucharistic celebration
- Evening — Concert by Massimo Di Cataldo, "Se adesso te ne vai 1996-2026 Celebration Tour"
Monday, July 27, 2026 — Grand Finale
- 9:00 PM — Evening with the Rochitos: music, dancing, and karaoke
- Followed by — Raffle drawing
- Closing — Pyromusical show by Pirotecnica Ronca Carmela
Every evening
- Food stall of the "Il Sogno" Cultural Association with local specialties
Highlights Maria SS. di Pagani Festival 2026
- Solemn procession on Sunday, July 26, at 9:00 AM, the most attended moment of the festival
- Concert by Massimo Di Cataldo with the "Se adesso te ne vai 1996-2026 Celebration Tour"
- The revival show "Nei '90 io c'ero – Tour 2026"
- Final pyromusical show by Pirotecnica Ronca Carmela
- The food stall of the "Il Sogno" Association, active every evening
- 119 years since the discovery of the Madonna's effigy, which occurred on January 20, 1907
Prices Maria SS. di Pagani Festival 2026
Practical information — Maria SS. di Pagani Festival
Where it takes place
Contrada Pagani, hamlet of Paupisi (BN), at the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Pagani. The musical evenings and food stalls are held in the equipped area next to the sanctuary.
How to get there
- By car: Exit at Benevento or Castelvenere/Ponte from the SS 372 "Telesina", then follow signs for Paupisi. The town is about 12 km from Benevento and 50 km from Naples.
- By train: Ponte-Casalduni station on the Benevento-Campobasso line, or Benevento Centrale station, then bus or taxi.
- Parking: Free parking along the district roads; on busy evenings, it is advisable to arrive early.
Prices
Free admission to all celebrations, concerts, and the pyromusical show. Only food at the stalls and raffle tickets are for purchase.
Tips
- The Sunday morning procession starts early: to follow it, it is best to be in the district around 9:00 AM.
- Evenings generally start at 9:00 PM and continue late; late July temperatures remain mild at night, but a light sweater is useful.
- For accommodation, the most convenient options are the agriturismi and B&Bs in Torrecuso, Vitulano, and Benevento.
Contacts
Organized by the "Il Sogno" Cultural Association (President Antonio Goglia) in collaboration with the Santa Maria del Bosco Parish (Parish Priest Father Cosimo Iadanza). Program updates are released by the local Sannio press and the association's social media channels.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Maria SS. di Pagani Festival
Santuario di Maria Santissima di Pagani, contrada Pagani
Contrada Pagani, 82030 Paupisi