Sagra di San Rocco

The heart festival of Porlezza

The Sagra di San Rocco is, for the people of Porlezza, the most important festival of the year. This town overlooking Lake Lugano (Ceresio), in the province of Como, celebrates its patron saint on August 16th with an event that intertwines faith, tradition, and spectacle, maintaining a connection with the territory that dates back to 1854.

Pilgrimage to Sasso di Palo

The central religious moment is the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of San Rocco, which stands on Sasso di Palo, in a panoramic position above the town. The ascent to the sanctuary is an act of devotion that the community renews every year, on a path that also offers an opportunity to admire the landscape of Lake Lugano from above.

The horizontal pole and fireworks on the lake

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival offers its most popular and spectacular traditions. The traditional horizontal pole game on the lake is a challenge where participants test their balance along a pole suspended over the water, to the crowd's delight. In the evening, the local philharmonic orchestra's night concert accompanies the festivities, culminating in fireworks reflected on the waters of Lake Lugano, one of the most anticipated summer shows on the lake.

Tradition and identity on Lake Lugano

The Sagra di San Rocco tells the deep-rooted identity of Porlezza and its people, a borderland between Italy and Switzerland, rich in lakeside traditions. For those visiting Lake Lugano in August, it is a precious opportunity to experience an authentic festival, far from the most crowded tourist circuits, in the heart of the province of Como.