Patronal Feast of Saint Caesarius the Martyr

The patronal feast of San Cesareo

The Patronal Feast of Saint Caesarius the Martyr is the most significant annual event for the community of San Cesareo, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital located along the Via Casilina, between the Castelli Romani and the Prenestina area of Lazio. Every year in late August, the town gathers around its patron saint for three days of religious celebrations, popular traditions, local cuisine, and live music.

Saint Caesarius the Martyr, the saint who gives the town its name

Saint Caesarius was a young Christian martyr of the 1st century who, according to tradition, was martyred in Terracina during Roman persecutions. The bond with this Lazio town is recent but profound: in 1991, the Saint was officially declared the patron of the young municipality of San Cesareo, and in 1992, Bishop Vittorio Tomasetti established the feast day on August 27th. In 1997, the community received the Saint's relics from the Roman Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme; since then, the reliquary has accompanied the statue during the procession, the most solemn moment of the festival.

The ritual: solemn mass and procession

The religious heart of the festivities is the solemn mass celebrated at the San Giuseppe Parish, followed by a procession carrying the statue and reliquary of Saint Caesarius the Martyr through the town streets, accompanied by the faithful and, in various editions, by the Municipal Band and Choir. While the liturgical date is fixed on August 27th, the civil celebrations are often moved to the nearest weekend: for example, in 2025, the festival took place from August 29th to 31st.

The festival in the square: flavors and concerts

Alongside the religious rites, the popular festival thrives. Every evening, food stalls managed by the San Cesareo Pro Loco offer traditional local dishes and street food, while the stage hosts free concerts. In recent years, the lineup has featured cover bands of major Italian music icons, tribute bands for Pooh and Cesare Cremonini, ballroom orchestras, and groups playing hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The atmosphere is that of a genuine Lazio patronal feast, with families filling the square until late at night.

A community in celebration

The Municipality of San Cesareo organizes the festivities in collaboration with the Pro Loco and numerous local associations, from the Colle Nobeletto Committee to various Catholic and cultural groups. More than just an event, the patronal feast is the moment when a young city—established only in 1990—renews its identity around its Saint.

In the heart of Lazio

San Cesareo is located about 30 kilometers from Rome, in a convenient position for those visiting the Castelli Romani, Palestrina, or Zagarolo. The late August festival is an excellent opportunity to discover this corner of the Lazio region, far from the main tourist circuits, amidst vineyards, Roman countryside, and authentic traditions.