Patronal Feast of Saint Lawrence and Saint Lawrence Fair

The most heartfelt celebration for the locals

On August 10th, the day the Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, the town of San Lorenzo Nuovo in the province of Viterbo experiences the most significant moment of its calendar. The Patronal Feast of Saint Lawrence is considered the most deeply felt event by the residents of this Alta Tuscia village, perched 500 meters above Lake Bolsena, blending religious devotion, music, charity, and traditional commerce over two days.

The August 10th procession

The religious heart of the festival is the evening procession, which begins around 6:30 PM. The statue of the patron saint is carried on shoulders through the town streets, accompanied by a large number of faithful, the local confraternity, the parish priest, and the San Lorenzo Nuovo marching band. The procession winds through the regular, symmetrical streets of the historic center before returning to the parish church dedicated to Saint Lawrence, whose 34-meter-high facade dominates the scenic Piazza Europa.

Charity bingo and square concert

After the procession, the festivities continue in Piazza Europa with the grand charity bingo, an unmissable appointment on the evening of August 10th, followed by live music. In the days leading up to the event, the 'Estate Sanlorenzana' program accompanies the celebration with an inaugural concert by the marching band and a polyphonic choral concert in the parish church, while from August 11th, the local club organizes a charity raffle.

The Saint Lawrence Fair on August 11th

The day after the religious feast, the traditional Saint Lawrence Fair takes place. Stalls and street vendors fill the town streets all day long, offering handicrafts, local products, and all kinds of goods. The fair coincides with the opening night of the Gnocchi Festival, a major gastronomic event that transforms Piazza Europa into a massive open-air restaurant for ten nights, dedicated to gnocchi made with potatoes from the Upper Viterbo area.

A village born from an Enlightenment project

The setting of the festival is worth the trip alone: San Lorenzo Nuovo is a rare example of an 18th-century planned town. The village was rebuilt from scratch between 1771 and 1779 by the will of Popes Clement XIV and Pius VI, based on a design by architect Francesco Navone, who drew inspiration from the Amalienborg square in Copenhagen. This resulted in the octagonal Piazza Europa, from which wide, straight streets radiate. The Church of Saint Lawrence houses paintings attributed to Vasari, a 12th-century wooden crucifix, and a bust of Pius VI attributed to Canova.

Why visit

• Experience the most authentic patronal feast in Alta Tuscia, featuring a procession, marching band, and bingo in the square
• Browse the stalls at the Saint Lawrence Fair on August 11th
• Stay for the opening night of the Gnocchi Festival
• Discover the octagonal square and the monumental church of this 18th-century village
• Enjoy the view over Lake Bolsena, just a stone's throw from the Via Francigena, in the heart of the Lazio region