Patronal Feast of Saint George the Martyr (Ducenta)

A patronal feast in the heart of the Aversa area

The Patronal Feast of Saint George the Martyr is the major annual event in Ducenta, the historic district that, together with Trentola, forms the municipality of Trentola Ducenta in the province of Caserta, Campania. For two weeks, between late August and early September, the town transforms: artistic illuminations line the streets, solemn celebrations take place in the parish church, and processions, musical performances, and food stalls draw visitors from across the Aversa area.

This is not merely a summer fair, but the defining celebration of an entire community. The festivities are organized by the San Giorgio Martire Festival Committee in collaboration with the parish led by Father Giuseppe Marino, the Municipality of Trentola Ducenta, and the Diocese of Aversa.

Seven centuries of devotion

The bond between Ducenta and Saint George runs deep: in 2024, the community celebrated the 7th centenary of devotion (1324-2024), which opened on April 23, 2024, with the Holy Door rite presided over by the Bishop of Aversa, Monsignor Angelo Spinillo, accompanied by an indulgence granted for the entire parish jubilee year.

Records of the martyr's cult in the area date back to the second half of the 1500s, and by 1557, a parish church dedicated to the saint already existed. The current Baroque building dates back to the 17th century, featuring a single nave and side chapels. Inside, it houses the wooden statue of the saint, crafted by the sculptor Cav. Fantoni of Rome, depicting Saint George as a young warrior in silver armor with a dragon at his feet, and a relic—a small bone from the martyr's arm—placed in a silver reliquary in 1704 and authenticated by the Curia of Aversa.

How the festival unfolds

The program seamlessly blends religious moments with civic events. The recurring highlights include:

• Lighting of the artistic illuminations, which officially kicks off the festivities;
• Triduum of preparation with the rosary and evening Eucharistic celebrations;
• Solemn Mass on the main day, often presided over by a visiting bishop;
• Procession with the statue of Saint George through the town streets, accompanied by a brass band and confraternities;
• Symbolic delivery of the town keys to the patron saint by the municipal administration;
• Traditional auction, musical evenings, children's entertainment, and a closing fireworks display.

Pizza Piazza: the gastronomic experience

Alongside the religious dimension, the festivities host Pizza Piazza, the food and wine festival set up in the PIME complex in Trentola Ducenta. In the 2025 edition, stalls featured traditional leavened pizza by Eduardo Di Caprio, sausage and eggplant sandwiches by the Sagliocco brothers, fried seafood cones from Nicola Cosentino's fish market, and signature 'graffe' donuts by Luigi Cangiano, accompanied by talent shows and neomelodic singers. "Events, music, and food": this is how the committee, through secretary Federico De Mattia, summarizes the spirit of togetherness and fraternity of the event.

The 2025 edition: peace, jubilee, and Templar town

In 2025, the solemn festivities took place from August 24 to September 7, inspired by the theme of the Jubilee of Hope. The opening on August 24 combined the lighting of the Addario firm's illuminations with a great march for peace: a silent, candlelight procession that started at 8:30 PM from Piazza Padre Paolo Manna and arrived at Piazza Marconi, featuring Mayor Michele Apicella, Bishop Monsignor Angelo Spinillo, parish priest Father Giuseppe Marino, and local associations. On August 27, the celebration presided over by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa, was broadcast live on television. On the same day, the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem donated a sword containing a relic of Saint George, and Trentola Ducenta was proclaimed a "Templar Town." On August 31, the main day, the 11:00 AM solemn Mass was presided over by Monsignor Francesco Beneduce, Auxiliary Bishop of Naples, followed in the afternoon by the departure of the saint and the second part of the procession.

When to go

The festival is concentrated in the last ten days of August and the first week of September. First-time visitors can combine the trip with exploring the Aversa area: Aversa, with its Norman historic center, is just a few kilometers away.