Saint Anne Festival

The Saint Anne Festival in Avellino

On July 26th, the municipality of Avellino, the capital of Irpinia in Campania, celebrates Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and protector of expectant mothers, mothers, and families wishing for a child. It is one of the city's most cherished traditions: a popular devotion that has been renewed for over three hundred years, filling the church of Santa Maria del Rifugio in Piazza del Popolo—known to all locals simply as the Saint Anne Church—with the faithful. In 2026, the venerated image of the Saint was hosted in the Cathedral, chosen to accommodate the extraordinary turnout recorded in previous years.

The Triduum and the Blessing of Expectant Mothers

The journey toward the festival begins with the three-day preparation period (triduum), from July 23rd to 25th, three days of spiritual reflection and community preparation. The most intense moment is the vigil mass on July 25th, when the blessing of expectant mothers is imparted. Expectant women entrust themselves to Saint Anne to obtain the three graces traditionally associated with her for centuries: a safe delivery, a healthy child, and sufficient milk to nurse. This ancient rite continues to draw the faithful not only from the city but from the entire Province of Avellino.

July 26th, the Saint's Day

On the day of the liturgical feast, holy masses are held every hour starting from 6:00 AM, while the supplication to Saint Anne is recited at noon. The flow of devotees is constant throughout the day, with people bringing flowers, lighting candles, or returning to give thanks for a received grace. In the evening, at 7:00 PM, a solemn mass is celebrated in honor of the Saint, which has frequently been attended by the Bishop of Avellino, Monsignor Arturo Aiello.

The Alzata del Pannetto, the rite that opens the Avellino Ferragosto

At 8:00 PM, the ritual that makes the Avellino festival unique begins: the Alzata del Pannetto (Raising of the Cloth). The historical pageant—featuring the Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Conception, the city banner, civil and military authorities, and participants from the districts involved in the Palio della Botte, accompanied by flag-wavers and drummers—marches through the historic center, passing via Duomo, Piazza Amendola, via Nappi, via Episcopio (in front of the Saint Anne Church), and via Rifugio, until reaching Piazza Libertà. Here, after the display of the district banners and speeches by the authorities, the large cloth bearing the Virgin's image is hoisted at the entrance of via Nappi, where it remains displayed for the duration of the festivities. The tradition dates back to the early 18th century: the first documented raising took place in 1712, while the cloth itself is a 17th-century artifact, guarded over the centuries by the Amoretti, Testa, Ferrara, and de Conciliis families.

A bridge to the Assumption on August 15th

The Saint Anne Festival is not an isolated event: it is the gateway to the long cycle of celebrations that culminates on August 15th with the solemnity of the Assumption, the patron saint of Avellino, and the evening procession of the venerated statue through the city streets. This is why, on July 26th, the people of Avellino speak not just of a festival, but of the beginning of their summer: from that day on, the cloth hoisted in Piazza Libertà accompanies the city until Ferragosto and beyond.

A devotion of all Irpinia

The cult of Saint Anne is deeply rooted throughout the Irpinian territory, where numerous towns dedicate chapels, festivals, and processions to her during the same week in late July. In Avellino, however, the occasion takes on a civic value as well as a religious one, as it unites the parish community, confraternities, historic districts, and city institutions in a single event. For those visiting inland Campania during these days, it is an authentic opportunity to connect with a still-vibrant popular tradition, far from the most beaten tourist paths.