Patronal Feast of Saint John the Baptist

The patronal feast in the heart of the Viterbo Tuscia

The Patronal Feast of Saint John the Baptist is the most anticipated event of the year in Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia, a village of about 1,200 inhabitants in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. The recurrence traditionally falls on the third Sunday of August, transforming the streets of the historic center into a stage for faith, music, and community spirit for an entire weekend. It is the moment when the town welcomes back its emigrants, vacationers, and visitors from neighboring villages in a festive atmosphere that embodies the most authentic traditions of the Tuscia communities.

Solemn mass, procession, and brass bands

The religious heart of the feast is the solemn celebration in the parish church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, a building that houses five 18th-century altarpieces, including works attributed to the painter Francesco Guerrini dating back to 1756. This is followed by a procession through the village streets, with the statue of the patron saint carried on the shoulders of the faithful, accompanied by brass bands and greeted by the applause of the community upon its return. In the evening, as per tradition, the festive weekend concludes with a fireworks display that illuminates the village sky.

A village that also celebrates its own history

The patronal feast is deeply linked to the civic identity of Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia. It was precisely during the patronal feast on August 19, 1945, that the town celebrated the restoration of its municipal autonomy after seventeen years of annexation to Blera: the decree of August 2, 1945, returned independence to the then San Giovanni di Bieda, which adopted its current name in 1961. For the 2025 edition, marking 80 years of autonomy, the municipal administration, the Pratichiamo Villa association, and the Province of Viterbo organized a historical exhibition of photographs and documents in the school building's blue room, curated by Francesco di Gregorio, which was open to visitors during the feast days.

The Sagra della Pezzata, the taste of tradition

The patronal celebrations coincide with the Sagra della Pezzata ed arrosticini di pecora (Mutton Stew and Skewer Festival), organized by the APS Pratichiamo Villa in Piazza Maggiore, which reached its twenty-sixth edition in 2025. The pezzata is the signature dish of transhumance in the Tuscia region: mutton boiled for a long time with aromatic herbs, served in earthenware bowls with toasted bread at the bottom and pecorino cheese on top. The food stalls also offer gnocchi with mutton ragù, amatriciana, stew, grilled meats, and traditional desserts, while the evenings are enlivened by live concerts, flag-waver performances, a funfair for children, and a local raffle.

The Etruscan village between necropolises and countryside

The feast is the ideal opportunity to discover a little-known corner of the Lazio region. The origins of Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia as an organized community date back to the 16th century, when Pope Leo X granted these territories to Renzo da Ceri of the Orsini-Anguillara family, but the area preserves much older evidence: Etruscan rock-cut necropolises with chamber tombs and Roman remains with mosaic floors. The Municipality of Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia is located along the road connecting Vetralla and Blera, in the green heart of the province of Viterbo, less than an hour and a half from Rome.

A weekend of community

Between the devotion to the Baptist, the aromas of the food festival, and the music in the square, the patronal feast remains the moment when this small municipality of the Lazio Region renews its sense of belonging. A genuine event, with free admission, that tells the story of the popular soul of the Tuscia better than any guidebook.