Patronal Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (Bread Festival)

The Bread Festival of Casola di Napoli

In the heart of the Lattari Mountains, the small town of Casola di Napoli, in the Province of Naples (Campania), celebrates its patron saint, Saint Anthony of Padua, every year with one of the most distinctive festivals in the Sorrento Peninsula: the Bread Festival. The event takes place around June 13th, the liturgical feast day of the Saint, transforming the village streets into a journey of faith, flavors, and folk tradition.

The tradition of blessed bread

Casola boasts an ancient tradition of bakers and pasta makers, an art passed down through generations. On the day of Saint Anthony, citizens bring bags of bread to the parish church for the solemn blessing; the blessed bread is then distributed and shared among neighbors, a gesture that renews the sense of community and solidarity typical of patronal feasts in Southern Italy.

A program between the sacred and the secular

• Solemn Holy Mass at the parish church, featuring the blessing of Saint Anthony's bread;
• Procession of the Saint's statue through the village streets, accompanied by hymns and popular devotion;
• Food stalls offering local specialties: bread and baked goods, sausages, rustic pizzas, pastries, and wine from the Lattari Mountains;
• Craft market with typical local products;
• Evening concerts in the square, with live music and folk performances;
• Fireworks display to close the festivities.

A community event

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Casola di Napoli with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Casola di Napoli. More than just a food festival, the Bread Festival represents a moment of serenity and sharing where the entire town gathers to celebrate its roots, combining religious devotion with local conviviality.

Why visit

Nestled in the greenery of the Lattari Mountains, just a few kilometers from Castellammare di Stabia and the Sorrento Coast, Casola di Napoli offers visitors the chance to discover an authentic Campanian village, far from the main tourist flows. The Bread Festival is the ideal occasion to savor local products and experience a deeply rooted folk tradition firsthand.