Patronal Feast in honor of Maria SS. Preziosa

The most anticipated festival in Casal di Principe

Every year in September, Casal di Principe gathers around its patron saint, Maria Santissima Preziosa, in one of the most attended celebrations in the province of Caserta. The patronal feast, in the heart of Campania, weaves religious devotion with days of music, entertainment, and conviviality that bring the entire town to life. In 2026, the secular festivities take place from September 9th to 13th in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the historic square that locals still know as 'Piazza Mercato'.

The 'Madonna zingarella' and the cult of the Preziosa

The title of Maria SS. Preziosa has roots in an ancient cult, documented in Casal di Principe even before the year 1000. The venerated image, depicting a dark-faced Virgin holding the Child, is affectionately called 'Madonna zingarella' (the gypsy Madonna) by the faithful. The devotion is marked by a double pilgrimage: on Tuesday in albis, after Easter, the image is accompanied in procession to the parish of Maria SS. Preziosa, where it remains until September 8th, the day of the Nativity of the Virgin, when a similar procession returns it to the mother church of SS. Salvatore. It is around this anniversary that the biggest festival of the year is centered.

The 2026 Program

The 2026 edition offers three high-profile evenings designed to engage all generations. It kicks off on Wednesday, September 9th, with a DJ set by Gigi Soriani for an evening of music and rhythm in the square. Friday, September 11th, is dedicated to comedy with a show by Biagio Izzo, a beloved face of Neapolitan theater and cinema. The grand finale is on Sunday, September 13th, with a concert by Gianni Fiorellino, an artist highly popular with the Campanian public, closing the festivities with music.

• September 9 — DJ set by Gigi Soriani
• September 11 — Comedy show by Biagio Izzo
• September 13 — Closing concert by Gianni Fiorellino

Alongside the stage events, the days are accompanied by traditional light displays (luminarie) that illuminate the town center and by religious rites linked to the patron saint, in an atmosphere that blends the sacred and the profane typical of Southern Italian festivals.

An identity-defining event for the community

Organized with the contribution of the Festival Committee and the parish community, the Maria SS. Preziosa Feast is much more than a simple religious anniversary: it is the moment when Casal di Principe, in Campania, reaffirms its identity and sense of belonging. The squares fill up, families reunite, and the town presents a festive and welcoming face, where Campanian popular tradition is renewed year after year.