Sacred Fire Festival of Saint Anthony the Abbot — The Focarone of Bagnaia

The sacred fire that warms the Tuscia winter

In the heart of winter, on the evening of January 16th, the village of Bagnaia — a district of the Municipality of Viterbo, in Lazio — gathers in Piazza XX Settembre around a monumental woodpile, several meters high and weighing dozens of tons. This is the Focarone, the great ritual bonfire lit on the eve of the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals and, in popular tradition, patron saint of fire. The flames, which burn throughout the night, are considered a good omen: a ritual rooted in ancient customs, where fire purifies, protects against disease, and wards off evil.

A tradition guarded by the focaroli

The soul of the festival is the Sacred Fire Committee of Saint Anthony, composed of dozens of local youths aged 18 to 30, known as focaroli. Their commitment lasts all year: almost every weekend, from February to December, they climb Monte della Palanzana to collect the wood — chestnut, oak, and olive — that will form the pyre, while the women of the group prepare stracci bagnaioli, a typical local dish, for the collectors. Building the Focarone requires days of work and specific expertise, as the pyre must burn in balance without collapsing. On January 17th, according to custom, whoever manages to snatch the flag from the church of Saint Anthony first earns their district the honor of leading the committee for the following year.

The lighting ritual

The evening of January 16th follows a well-established ceremony: the flag-wavers and musicians of the City of Viterbo open the festivities, a historical pageant traverses the ancient streets of the village, and, after a solemn blessing given by the bishop and the parish priest, the fire is set to the pyre amidst the cheers of the crowd. Within minutes, the flames engulf the pyre and illuminate the square, while folk songs, dances, and live concerts enliven the night until late.

Flavors and conviviality

Around the fire, the festival becomes a convivial affair: stands distribute red wine, mulled wine, sausage sandwiches, pasta, and hot chocolate, accompanied by cavallucci of Saint Anthony, the traditional cookies of the occasion. It is the moment when residents and visitors share the square in a spirit of community that the locals consider the true village festival, even if it is not officially the patronal feast.

The blessing of the animals

On January 17th, the day of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the festival takes on a more intimate and familiar tone: masses are celebrated, primary school students parade with drummers, and the traditional blessing of the animals takes place in the square, featuring horses, dogs, and farm animals. There is also a community breakfast with hot chocolate and cavallucci, often supporting charitable initiatives, and popular games organized around the holiday.

Bagnaia, the village of Villa Lante

The setting of the festival alone is worth the trip: Bagnaia is a medieval village in the province of Viterbo famous for Villa Lante, a masterpiece of the Italian Mannerist garden. Visiting the Focarone is also an opportunity to discover this corner of the Lazio Tuscia, with its peperino stone alleys, Renaissance fountains, and the nearby City of Popes, just a few kilometers away.