Patronal Festival of Saints Sebastian, Vitus and Roch

A festival that brings all of Marigliano together

The Patronal Festival of Marigliano, a town in the metropolitan city of Naples in Campania, is the September event where the entire community gathers to honor its three protectors: Saint Sebastian, Saint Vitus, and Saint Roch. It is a dual celebration, both religious and civic: on one hand, the liturgies and the procession starting from the Mother Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie; on the other, a calendar of concerts, exhibitions, and stalls that brings the town center to life for several consecutive days.

The September festival should not be confused with the January 20th commemoration dedicated solely to Saint Sebastian, which is more strictly liturgical. The early autumn festival is for "everyone": in recent editions, the municipal administration has involved the outlying districts—Lausdomini, Faibano, via Vittorio Veneto, Pontecitra, Casaferro, and San Vito—with delegations and exhibition spaces, ensuring the celebration is not confined to the historic center. This detail highlights the spirit of the event: no distinction between the center and the periphery, but a single united community.

Three patrons, four centuries of devotion

The cult of the three saints dates back to the early 17th century, though documentary evidence is even older: a 1586 inventory of the Collegiate Church already records statues of Saint Sebastian and Saint Vitus, while the chapel of Saint Roch was commissioned in 1572. Local tradition links the patronage to the plague of 1656, from which Marigliano believed it was saved through the intercession of Sebastian and Roch, and recalls the extraordinary processions during the long drought of 1779, which lasted from January 1st to April 27th of that year.

The artistic heritage linked to the patrons is also significant: in 1729, the famous Domenico Antonio Vaccaro created three paintings for the ceiling of the collegiate church depicting the martyrdom of the three saints, and in 1760, the marble three-niche chapel that still houses them today was erected. The silver statue of Saint Sebastian has a turbulent history, marked by two thefts: after the one on January 28, 1848, the faithful raised 1,200 ducats in just two months to commission a new one, while after the theft in January 1983, a gilded wooden sculpture was chosen. In 2025, the statues of Saint Vitus and Saint Roch underwent restoration overseen by the Soprintendenza ABAP of Naples and the Cultural Heritage Office of the Nola Bishopric, and the procession took place with the patrons' reliquaries.

How it works

• Eucharistic celebrations at the Mother Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, marking the entire patronal Sunday, from the first morning mass to the evening one.
• The solemn procession in the late afternoon, which winds through the streets of the center with the statues—or, when they are under restoration, with the reliquaries—of the three protectors.
• The fireworks display, which traditionally accompanies the return of the procession.
• Evening concerts in the square, alternating between local Marigliano artists and well-known names from the Neapolitan music scene.
• Exhibitions and stalls featuring local gastronomy, crafts, and associations, with regional food trucks and spaces dedicated to local sports clubs.

The taste and atmosphere of the Nola area

Marigliano lies in the Nola plain, between Vesuvius and the Avella Mountains, a land of vegetables, fruit, and baked goods. During the festival, the center fills with stalls and food trucks offering home-style cooking: fried foods, pizzas, traditional sweets, and specialties from local producers. It is an opportunity to taste the less touristy side of the Neapolitan hinterland.

The historic center, with its Ducal Palace and ancient churches, provides a natural backdrop for the evening events. Visitors from outside will find an authentic, free festival where religious ritual and evening festivities coexist seamlessly.

Why it is worth attending

The Patronal Festival is considered one of the most popular events of the year in Marigliano: a moment where spirituality, cultural identity, and collective memory intertwine. For the visitor, it is the best way to understand how a patronal festival is experienced in the province of Naples: the band, the fireworks, the lights, and families in the streets until late at night, just a half-hour train ride from Naples.