Patronal Feast of Saint John the Baptist (with the 39th Cicatielli, Pecorino and Capicollo Festival)
Triduum, procession, and cicatielli festival in the heart of Sannio
About Saint John the Baptist Feast
A patronal feast in the heart of Sannio
San Giovanni di Ceppaloni is one of the hamlets of the Municipality of Ceppaloni, a small hillside town in the province of Benevento, in Campania, overlooking the Sabato valley and just a few kilometers from the Sannio capital. Here, around the medieval parish church rebuilt in the 18th century, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated every year at the end of June, the patron saint who gives the village its name. This is not an event built for tourism: it is a tradition handed down by the community, with its typically southern blend of solemn liturgy, illuminations, brass bands, and village cuisine.
The sacred triduum and the June 24th procession
The religious aspect, led by the parish priest Father Lorenzo Varrecchia, opens with a preparatory triduum: three evenings marked by the rosary, litanies, and a Eucharistic celebration each dedicated to a cardinal virtue—prudence, justice, fortitude—with moments of Eucharistic adoration animated by the parish community.
The patron saint's day, June 24th, begins at dawn with festive bell ringing and continues with morning masses, leading up to the solemn celebration at noon. In the late afternoon, the ancient effigy of Saint John the Baptist leaves the church for the solemn procession through the streets of the hamlet, accompanied by the band, civil authorities, and a procession of the faithful that grows longer each year. The week concludes with a thanksgiving mass and the return of the statue to the altar.
The Cicatielli, Pecorino and Capicollo Festival
Alongside the religious festivities, the secular side comes alive, centered on the Cicatielli, Pecorino Cheese and Capicollo Festival, which reaches its 39th edition in 2026: nearly forty years of history that make it one of the longest-running festivals in the Benevento area. Cicatielli (or cecatielli) are the traditional handmade fresh pasta of the Sannio and Irpinia countryside: small, elongated gnocchi, hollowed out with the fingertips, which hold sauce better than almost any other shape. Here, they are served in the most authentic local version, with aged pecorino and local capicollo, in Piazza Chiesa, under the festive lights.
The Montanara Festival
In recent years, the historic festival has been joined by the Montanara Festival, dedicated to the Neapolitan fried pizza topped with tomato, cheese, and basil: in 2026, it is in its third edition and has become the gastronomic highlight of the final evening. Together, the two festivals cover the two faces of Campanian popular cuisine: homemade pasta and street-style frying.
Music, band, and illuminations
The evenings feature musical groups, dance orchestras, and local entertainment, with the brass band parade marching through the hamlet on the eve of the feast. There is also a fireworks display, traditionally reserved for the patron saint's night, and artistic street lighting curated by specialized companies from the Caserta area: two elements that in Southern Italy are not mere decorations but an integral part of the celebration.
When to go and what to expect
- Period: The final days of June, around the 24th, the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
- What to see: The evening procession on June 24th, the most attended and photographed moment of the year.
- What to eat: Cicatielli with pecorino and capicollo, montanare, and typical Sannio products.
- Atmosphere: Familiar and popular, with local families sitting at tables in the square until late at night.
- Surroundings: The castle of Ceppaloni, the historic center of Benevento with the Arch of Trajan and the Roman Theater, and the wine and truffle routes of Sannio.
For those who want to understand how a patronal feast is truly experienced in Campania, far from the major tourist circuits, San Giovanni di Ceppaloni offers one of the most authentic experiences in the province of Benevento.
Saint John the Baptist Feast — edition 2026
A highly attended edition
The 2026 festivities confirmed the formula that the community of San Giovanni di Ceppaloni has repeated for decades: four days where the liturgical and convivial dimensions alternate without overlapping. The parish priest Father Lorenzo Varrecchia led the triduum and the patron saint's day celebrations, while the solemn concluding mass was presided over by Monsignor Francesco Iampietro.
The June 24th procession was attended by local civil and military authorities, including the mayor of Ceppaloni Claudio Cataudo, the Carabinieri, and the Municipal Police. The evenings of June 23rd and 24th were animated by the parade of the "Città di Pannarano 2000" Brass Band, the groups "Pentagramma" and "Susan J Disco Cream," and "La banda del divertimento," with artistic lighting provided by the Migliore company from San Felice a Cancello. Local reports described a festival experienced, as stated, "in faith and spirituality, in the joy of the feast."
Programme Saint John the Baptist Feast 2026
Sunday, June 21 — First day of the triduum
- 6:30 PM — Recitation of the Holy Rosary and litanies
- 7:00 PM — Eucharistic celebration on the virtue of prudence
- 9:15 PM — Eucharistic adoration animated by the "Maria Madre della Misericordia" Community
Monday, June 22 — Second day of the triduum
- 6:30 PM — Holy Rosary and litanies
- 7:00 PM — Eucharistic celebration on the virtue of justice
- 9:15 PM — "Scauzon" evening
Tuesday, June 23 — Third day of the triduum and festival
- 6:30 PM — Holy Rosary and litanies
- 7:00 PM — Eucharistic celebration on the virtue of fortitude
- Afternoon — Parade of the "Città di Pannarano 2000" Brass Band through the hamlet streets
- Evening — 39th Cicatielli, Pecorino Cheese and Capicollo Festival in Piazza Chiesa
- Evening — Live music with "Pentagramma" and "Susan J Disco Cream"
Wednesday, June 24 — Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, patronal feast
- 8:00 AM — Festive bell ringing
- 8:30 AM — Eucharistic celebration presided over by local priests
- 11:00 AM — Eucharistic celebration on the virtue of temperance
- 6:00 PM — Solemn procession with the ancient effigy of Saint John the Baptist through the streets of the hamlet
- Evening — Eucharistic celebration presided over by Monsignor Francesco Iampietro
- Evening — 3rd Montanara Festival in Piazza Chiesa
- 9:30 PM — Show with "La banda del divertimento"
- Following — Fireworks display
Sunday, June 28 — Thanksgiving day
- Thanksgiving mass for the benefactors of the parish
Highlights Saint John the Baptist Feast 2026
- 39th Cicatielli, Pecorino Cheese and Capicollo Festival, Tuesday, June 23 in Piazza Chiesa: traditional handmade fresh pasta from Sannio in its most authentic version.
- Solemn procession on June 24 at 6:00 PM with the ancient effigy of the patron saint, the most attended moment of the four days.
- Parade of the "Città di Pannarano 2000" Brass Band, which opens the secular part of the festivities.
- 3rd Montanara Festival on the final evening, dedicated to fried pizza topped with tomato, cheese, and basil.
- Sacred triduum on the cardinal virtues — prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance — with Eucharistic adoration.
- Fireworks display and illuminations closing the patron saint's night.
Prices Saint John the Baptist Feast 2026
Practical information — Saint John the Baptist Feast
How to get there
By car: San Giovanni di Ceppaloni can be reached via the SS 88 Benevento–Avellino road, taking the exit toward Ceppaloni; it is located about 10 km from the center of Benevento. Parking is available in the hamlet's free areas; arrive early on festival evenings.
By train: Benevento Centrale station (lines to Naples, Caserta, and Foggia), then local bus lines or taxi to Ceppaloni.
By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, approximately 70 km away.
Admission and costs
Religious celebrations, the procession, concerts in the square, and the fireworks display are free of charge. Tastings at the food stands set up in Piazza Chiesa must be paid for individually.
Tips
- Arrive before 8:00 PM on festival evenings: queues at the stands grow rapidly.
- Bring cash: stands managed by the committee do not always accept cards.
- For the June 24th procession, position yourself along the hill leading to the church.
- For overnight stays, the widest selection is in Benevento; there are also agritourisms and small accommodations in the countryside of Ceppaloni and Sant'Angelo a Cupolo.
Information
The program and updates are shared by the Saint John the Baptist Parish and the Festival Committee on social media channels and through local Sannio press in the weeks leading up to the event.
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