Saint Anthony Abbot Festival and Velletri Polenta Festival

A tradition dating back to the 17th century

The Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is one of the most deeply rooted celebrations in Velletri, a town on the southern slopes of the Castelli Romani, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio region. It is organized by the University of Muleteers and Carters, an ancient guild founded in 1624 that brought together the city's mule and cart drivers. The first reliable records of the festival date back to the mid-17th century, when the guild celebrated its patron saint on January 17th, with the cavalcade taking place the following Sunday. Today, the University still manages the festival under the patronage of the Municipality of Velletri and the Tourism Department, keeping alive the devotion to Saint Anthony Abbot, protector of animals and the countryside.

The cavalcade and the blessing of the banner

The ritual begins in the morning at the Church of Saint Anthony Abbot with the gathering of the knights and the blessing of the banner depicting the saint. This is followed by a parade of caparisoned horses and costumed knights through the city streets and the countryside, accompanied by the City of Velletri flag-wavers and musicians. Among the most heartfelt moments are the evening torchlight procession in the medieval quarter, the visit to patients at the local hospital, and, for the little ones, the traditional 'saddle baptism' with ponies. On Sunday, the banner is awarded via a public auction, a custom documented after 1870 used by the guild to fund its social assistance work.

The Ring Joust and the Remo Strillozzi Trophy

The most anticipated moment is the Ring Joust, an equestrian competition of great historical and symbolic value held on Sunday afternoon along Via Martiri delle Fosse Ardeatine as part of a striking historical re-enactment. Galloping knights must spear a suspended ring; the winner receives the Remo Strillozzi Trophy, which celebrated its fiftieth edition in 2026. The awards also include the Marcella Maggiore Trophy for the best horse harness and the Adele Nicosanti Trophy for the best-decorated balcony along the route.

The Polenta Festival

Alongside the religious and equestrian festivities, Piazza Caduti sul Lavoro hosts the Polenta Festival, managed by the 'Il Cuore delle Tradizioni' association, which reached its eleventh edition in 2026. In a covered and heated structure, they serve red polenta with pork ribs, sausage, and pecorino cheese, white polenta with porcini mushrooms or broccoli and sausage, as well as vegan variations with chicory or broccoli. There is no shortage of lamb skewers, pork chops, pizza with wine, and traditional Velletri donuts, along with the distribution of the traditional 'favata' (fava bean stew) of Saint Anthony accompanied by local wine.

Why visit

The festival is the perfect opportunity to discover Velletri in winter: two days where faith, history, and popular cuisine intertwine in an authentic and family-friendly atmosphere. Admission to the events is free, and the city, easily accessible by train from Rome, offers a concentration of 'Castellana' identity during the weekend that few other events in Lazio can provide.

• Historical cavalcade with caparisoned horses and flag-wavers
• Ring Joust with the Remo Strillozzi Trophy
• Auction of the Saint Anthony banner
• Polenta Festival in a covered and heated structure
• Favata, Velletri donuts, and Castelli wine