Patronal Feast of the City of Arona (Saints Fedele and Carpoforo)

The Tredicino, the festive soul of Arona

March 13th is a date close to the heart of Arona, an elegant town in the Province of Novara overlooking Lake Maggiore in Piedmont. It is the day of the Tredicino, a festival that locals consider their true identity-defining celebration, even though the official patron saint (the Nativity of the Virgin Mary) is technically celebrated in September. The Tredicino is, in fact, a civic festival, proclaimed by the municipal administration and rooted in collective memory for nearly four hundred and fifty years.

The origins: the return of the relics in 1576

The festival began in March 1576, when the relics of the martyrs returned to Arona. Tradition honors four saints linked to the city: Graziano, Felino, Carpoforo, and Fedele. The return of the martyrs' remains, welcomed with great emotion by the population, was such a highly anticipated event that the city government established a day of celebration, a tradition passed down from generation to generation to the present day. The relics are kept in the church of San Graziano, the spiritual heart of the celebration.

The procession and religious rites

The most evocative devotional moment is the procession of the relics through the streets of the historic center. A particularly characteristic element is the transport of the reliquaries by sailboat along the lakefront, a gesture that recalls how the martyrs' remains arrived in the city in the 16th century. The celebrations are attended by the San Giorgio Musical Band, local confraternities, municipal authorities, and the youth of the parish community, who also enliven the day by selling flowers to support the festival.

The grand funfair on the lakefront

Beyond its religious dimension, the Tredicino is primarily the festival of the famous funfair that takes over the Arona lakefront at Piazzale Aldo Moro. For about two weeks around March 13th, the town transforms into a large open-air amusement park with over seventy rides and attractions, including Ferris wheels, bumper cars, and new additions that change every year. It is one of the most beloved events on the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore, drawing families and visitors from across the Province of Novara and surrounding areas.

A community tradition

March 13th is a public holiday for the city: numerous businesses and services remain closed to allow the community to fully experience the occasion. Between faith, historical memory, and popular entertainment, the Tredicino captures the identity of Arona and its deep bond with Lake Maggiore better than anything else.