Patronal Feast in honor of Saint Martin

The Casanova patronal feast: faith and community

In the heart of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, the small hamlet of Casanova, in the municipality of Cortino (Teramo province, Abruzzo), celebrates its Patronal Feast in honor of Saint Martin every summer. It is the most anticipated event of the year for the village's residents and for those who, born here, return to the foothills of the Laga to reconnect with their roots. The summer celebration is held earlier than the liturgical feast of Saint Martin of Tours, which falls on November 11th; moving it to August allows emigrants and vacationers to participate when the small mountain villages of the Teramo area come back to life.

Saint Martin and Saint Vincent, protectors of the village

The church of Saint Martin in Casanova has medieval roots. Its gabled facade, illuminated inside by a mullioned window, houses a single nave separated from the presbytery by a marble balustrade, while the massive bell tower, with its four single-light windows, holds a bell from 1886 inscribed with the names of the "glorious protectors of Casanova, Saint Vincent and Saint Martin." Around the church, the village preserves ancient evidence of its history, such as a 16th-century building dated 1523 and a small porch with the inscription "D.C. DEA 1740": a heritage that frames the festive days.

Music, food, and traditional games

Managed by the Pro Loco of Casanova, the festival spans several days and brings together the three souls of Abruzzo's village traditions: evening musical entertainment, local food with gastronomic stands offering the flavors of the Teramo mountains, and traditional games that involve both young and old. The event is free and open to the entire community and visitors, in a convivial atmosphere that is the real reason to head up here.

Cortino, the highest village in the Teramo mountains

Casanova is one of the many hamlets of Cortino, one of the highest municipalities in the province of Teramo, nestled at the foot of the Laga Mountains and entirely included in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Rare silver fir forests, nature trails, and pristine landscapes provide the backdrop for the festival: participating means discovering an authentic corner of inland Abruzzo, where religious and folk traditions resist the passage of time and mountain depopulation.