Patronal Feast of Saint Firman

The patron saint's feast of Montelupone

The Patronal Feast of Saint Firman is the most cherished event in the Municipality of Montelupone, an elegant medieval village in the province of Macerata, in Marche. The celebrations, scheduled in 2026 from March 6th to 15th, revolve around March 11th, the day of the saint's death, and involve the entire community through religious rites, civil events, and popular festivities.

Saint Firman and his abbey

Saint Firman was a Benedictine monk who, in 986, became the first abbot of the convent founded near the Potenza river, at the foot of Montelupone. Faithful to the rule of ora et labora (pray and work), he wisely led the community until his death on March 11th, 992, contributing to the reclamation of the valley and the cultural and spiritual growth of the territory. Proclaimed patron and protector of Montelupone along with the Virgin of Sorrows, he is particularly venerated as the protector of bones. His relics are kept in the crypt of the ancient Abbey of Saint Firman, a jewel of Marche Romanesque-Byzantine architecture.

The religious program

The spiritual heart of the feast is March 11th, with Holy Masses celebrated in the abbey in the morning (traditionally at 8, 9, and 10:30 AM) and, in the afternoon, the solemn procession with the saint's relics that winds through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by confraternities and the marching band of the "Amici della Filarmonica" Association. The celebration is preceded by a triduum of preparation in the days leading up to the feast.

Civil events and popular traditions

Alongside the religious appointments, the feast offers a rich civil program spread throughout the village:

• food stalls with typical flavors of the Macerata area
• performances by musical groups and bands
• briscola and bocce tournaments, popular games, and charity raffles
• attractions and a funfair for families
• the Cultural Exhibition set up in the abbey and curated by local students, a now historic event
• the fireworks display that concludes the evening of March 11th

The final weekend expands the festival with the traditional Marcialonga (a running race) organized by the Avis Podistica Group and the performance of a dialect play, moments that strengthen the bond between the community and its roots.

The Saint Firman Award

As part of the celebrations, the Saint Firman Award is presented, an honor given to personalities who have distinguished themselves in promoting the territory and local heritage, testifying to the festival's identity spirit.

A village among the most beautiful in Italy

Visiting Montelupone during the patron saint's feast means discovering one of the most charming villages in the Marche region, with its compact historic center, walls, towers, and the authentic atmosphere of the Macerata province, enlivened by the devotion and participation of an entire community.