Patronal Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

The Patron Saint of Maddaloni

Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of Maddaloni, a city in the province of Caserta, Campania. His feast day falls on September 29th and is the most anticipated moment of the year for the entire community. For several days, the town center is filled with illuminations, stalls, music, and devotion, weaving together ancient religious rites and secular celebrations organized by the Municipality alongside local associations. Visitors arriving in Maddaloni during these days will find a city dressed for a party, from the streets of the center to the main squares.

The Sanctuary on the Tifatini Hills

The heart of the cult is the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Mary of the Mount, which stands on the summit of the Tifatini hills, overlooking the town and surrounded by greenery. This is a place of worship of medieval origin: the existence of a hermitage on the mountain was documented as early as 1113 by the Bishop of Capua, while popular tradition links the birth of the sanctuary to an apparition of the Archangel to a shepherd. The devotion of Maddaloni has roots in the Lombard era and has remained alive without interruption to this day; the sanctuary is not just a sacred building, but a true symbol of the city's collective identity.

The Descent of the Statue and the 'Accollatori'

The September festival is preceded by a ritual that surprises first-time observers: in summer, the statue of the Archangel is carried down from the mountain on the shoulders of the accollatori, the devotees who, by vow, carry the effigy of the patron saint along the descent. After the Holy Mass, the afternoon procession, accompanied by a brass band, reaches the Basilica of Corpus Domini, where the simulacrum remains exposed to the veneration of the faithful until the festivities on September 29th. The same 'accollatori' also carry the saint during the processions on May 8th, the day of the Apparition, and September 29th: two dates that have marked the religious calendar of Maddaloni for centuries.

September 29th: The Solemn Procession

The patronal day is marked by celebrations in the Basilica of Corpus Domini and the solemn procession through the city streets, with the participation of the Bishop, civil and military authorities, confraternities, committees, and the band. It is the moment when the city recognizes itself in its own history: decorated balconies, applause as the statue passes, and entire families following the procession. The day then continues in the square with the musical portion of the festivities.

Secular Festivities

Alongside the religious aspect, the secular program traditionally occupies several evenings around September 29th, transforming the squares—Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Matteotti, Piazza Don Salvatore D'Angelo—into open-air stages. In recent years, the schedule has featured:

• concerts by artists from the Neapolitan and Italian scene, from historic singer-songwriters to today's most popular voices;
• comedy nights and cabaret with well-known television faces;
• folk music, 'tammurriate', and revivals of the seventies, eighties, and nineties;
• performances by local dance schools, street entertainment, and family shows;
• symphonic band concerts and moments dedicated to the city's memory;
• the pyromusical show, one of the most anticipated in the province of Caserta.

The Fireworks, the Festival's Signature

Fireworks are an integral part of the festival's identity: each edition entrusts a pyrotechnic company with the nighttime spectacle that opens or closes the festivities. In 2025, the pyromusical show was handled by Pirotecnica Pirostar of Vittorio De Angelis, from Alife, and took place in the Via Totò De Curtis area before a massive crowd. For many in Maddaloni, the moment of the fireworks, with the mountain and the sanctuary as a backdrop, is the true symbol of the festival.

When to Go and What to Expect

The key date remains September 29th, but the secular festivities are usually spread over three or four consecutive evenings around that date. Those visiting Maddaloni for the occasion can combine the festival with a climb to the sanctuary on the mountain, which offers a wide panorama over the Campanian plain, and a walk in the historic center. The city is located a few kilometers from Caserta and is therefore easily accessible even for those staying in the provincial capital or the rest of the Terra di Lavoro.