Patronal Feast of San Simplicio Martire

The Patronal Feast of Ancarano

In the heart of the Val Vibrata, at the northernmost tip of the Teramo region in Abruzzo, the small town of Ancarano honors its patron saint, San Simplicio Martire, every year, whose relics are kept under the altar of the Madonna della Pace church. The anniversary falls on July 29th and is one of the community's most heartfelt events, bringing together faith, historical memory, and village conviviality in a historic center characterized by its narrow, winding streets.

Faith and Procession

The religious aspect is the focal point of the day: the Solemn Holy Mass is celebrated in the Madonna della Pace church, which houses a precious wooden sculpture of the Madonna dating back to 1489, attributed to Silvestro dall'Aquila. At the end of the service, the procession winds through the town, accompanied by the faithful and the notes of the local town band.

The Canestrelle, an 18th-century ritual

The most distinctive feature of the festival is the re-enactment of the Canestrelle, a folk tradition rooted in the 18th century. In the past, farmers would go to the friars to have their 'canestrelle' blessed—baskets containing the first fruits and harvest products offered to the church once dedicated to San Simplicio (now the Madonna della Carità). The costumed re-enactment has brought this custom back to life, continuing to link the Ancarano community to its agricultural and devotional past.

Brass bands and civil festivities

Alongside the religious dimension, the civil celebrations organized by the Municipality of Ancarano feature a gathering of interregional brass bands, with a parade through the town streets. The Ancarano Town Band Association participates alongside guest groups from the Marche and Abruzzo regions, with concerts in Piazza Roma and the presence of majorettes. Over the years, the festival has also been enriched by the Premio Flajani award ceremony, a local honor.

The flavors of Val Vibrata

Like every Abruzzese village festival, the culinary tradition plays a leading role at San Simplicio. Square dances and musical evenings are accompanied by tastings of typical local products: cheeses, bruschetta, sweets like bescuotte de lu mete, and the wines of the Val Vibrata, one of the most renowned wine-growing areas in the province of Teramo.

A village to discover in Abruzzo

Situated at an altitude of about 294 meters with just under two thousand inhabitants, Ancarano is a village of ancient origins, once tasked with guarding the Val Vibrata and the Via Salaria. The patronal feast of San Simplicio is the ideal opportunity to discover its historic center, its Renaissance churches, and the hospitality of this corner of Abruzzo on the border with the Marche region.