Patronal Feast of Saint Margaret of Antioch and Saint Flaviano

A patronal feast in the heart of Tuscia

The Patronal Feast of Saint Margaret of Antioch is the most cherished identity-defining event in Montefiascone, a town in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. Perched on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater overlooking Lake Bolsena, the village celebrates its patron saint on July 20th, the date marked in the liturgical calendar, with days of festivities involving parishes, associations, local merchants, and citizen committees.

Saint Margaret and Saint Flaviano

Devotion to Saint Margaret of Antioch in Montefiascone is ancient: the city preserves the saint's skull relic, kept in the basilica dedicated to her and carried in procession on the eve of the solemnity. Alongside her, the community venerates Saint Flaviano, the co-patron, whose double-layered Romanesque basilica is a masterpiece of the Lazio region and houses the tomb of the German prelate Johannes Defuk, linked to the legend of the Est! Est!! Est!!! wine. The traditional biscuit festival held in spring is linked to the co-patron, showing how deeply the town's religious and gastronomic lives are intertwined.

Typical program of the festivities

The calendar, which varies from year to year, traditionally alternates between religious and secular moments:

• Triduum of preparation in the days leading up to the solemnity, with celebrations in the Basilica of Saint Margaret;
• First Vespers and procession with the saint's relic through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by local marching bands;
• Solemn Pontifical Mass on July 20th, animated by the Saint Margaret Choir;
• Traditional market and craft fair across Piazzale Mauri, Via Indipendenza, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and Corso Cavour;
• Sports and popular events: walks to the basilica, village games, youth tournaments, archery exhibitions, and evening bike rides;
• Dinners in the square and tastings of typical Tuscia products, from local wine to traditional peasant cuisine;
• Concerts, street theater performances dedicated to the saint, and the classic tombola draw, often accompanied by fireworks.

Atmosphere and audience

The festival is not a staged tourist event, but a celebration lived by the community: families return to the village, the streets of the historic center fill with stalls, and the squares become the natural stage for summer evenings. For visitors, it is the best opportunity to see Montefiascone in its most authentic form, between the Rocca dei Papi, the Cathedral of Saint Margaret with its imposing dome, and the views over the lake.

What to see around the festival

The patronal days are perfect for a weekend in the Viterbo Tuscia: the Rocca dei Papi and its viewpoint, the Basilica of Saint Flaviano, the wineries of the Est! Est!! Est!!! area of Montefiascone, the beaches of Lake Bolsena just a few minutes away by car, and the nearby villages of Bolsena, Marta, and Capodimonte. Shortly after the patronal feast, in August, the city calendar continues with the historic Wine Fair, another key event for the town.