Patronal Feast of Saint John the Baptist

The Patronal Feast of Apice

On June 24th, the Municipality of Apice, a town of just over five thousand inhabitants in the heart of the Sannio region, province of Benevento (Campania), celebrates Saint John the Baptist, its patron saint. This is the most significant date on the local calendar: for a few days, village life revolves around the parish church and the town squares, where liturgical celebrations, music, and social gatherings take place. The date is no coincidence: the birth of the Baptist falls just days after the summer solstice, and throughout Italy, it is linked to a rich tapestry of popular rituals, from scented water to bonfires lit in the night.

From the Novena to the Procession

The religious heart of the festival is the novena of preparation, featuring the recitation of the rosary and evening mass in the days leading up to June 24th. On the day of the solemnity, masses and the blessing of the water follow one another; in the evening, the solemn procession begins, carrying the saint's effigy through the town streets, traditionally concluding with an open-air concelebration in Piazza della Ricostruzione, the civic space around which Apice was rebuilt following the earthquake. The streets are decorated with lights and ornaments prepared by local associations and volunteers: a collective effort that involves the entire town and highlights how deeply the festival is felt.

The Secular Program: Band, Music, and Stalls

Alongside the religious program, a secular schedule is organized by the festival committee with the support of the Municipality. Recurring elements include:

• The Brass Band Parade: A musical ensemble marches through the main streets during the day and later performs an evening concert in the square, following a musical tradition deeply rooted in Southern Italy.
• The Fireworks Display: A grand finale that illuminates the sky above the town and officially closes the festivities.
• Food Stalls: Featuring the flavors of Sannio cuisine and local wines.
• Cultural Events and Musical Evenings: Organized by local associations throughout the festival days.

Apice, the Double Town

First-time visitors will discover that Apice is, in a sense, two towns. The earthquake of August 21, 1962, devastated the historic center, causing seventeen casualties; residents were moved to a new settlement built across the Calore River, and the 1980 earthquake forced the final abandonment of the old village. Today, Apice Vecchia is an evocative ghost town with a medieval layout, where the castle and the churches of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo and Saints Bartolomeo and Nicola stand guard over silent alleys. In this context, the patronal feast takes on a value that goes beyond devotion: it is a ritual of continuity, the thread that binds the memory of the lost village to the community that rebuilt itself just downstream.

Why it is worth visiting

There is nothing staged about this festival: it is a genuine village celebration where the procession passes by decorated houses, neighbors share chairs in the street, and the band plays for those who stop to listen. For the visitor, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Benevento Sannio, amidst hills cultivated with vineyards and olive groves, about twenty kilometers from Benevento and its Roman and Lombard landmarks. Those wishing to combine the festival with a visit can spend the afternoon in Apice Vecchia and the evening at the celebrations in the new town.

When it takes place

The central date is fixed: June 24th, the solemnity of the birth of Saint John the Baptist. Festivities are concentrated in the days immediately preceding it, with the novena, and may extend to the following evening depending on the program established each year by the committee. Since the secular calendar is defined only a few weeks in advance, it is advisable to check the times with the parish or the Municipality of Apice before traveling.