Saint Anthony Abbot Festival in Sutri

A thousand-year-old festival in the heart of Tuscia

In Sutri, an Etruscan and medieval village in the province of Viterbo, northern Lazio, the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is far more than a religious observance: it is the quintessential identity-defining event that the entire population looks forward to all year round. Devotion to the patron saint of animals has been deeply rooted for centuries; a 14th-century city statute already designated January 17th—the day dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot—as a public holiday, which is why the festival is considered to have thousand-year-old origins. The bond between man, the land, and animals, embodied by the Egyptian hermit saint, finds one of its most authentic expressions here in Central Italy.

The two cavalry groups: the Antica and Nuova Societies

The most spectacular and original feature of the Sutri festival is the presence of two rival lay congregations of peasant origin, which for nearly a century have vied for the privilege of honoring the Saint: the Cavalry of the Antica Society members, represented by the color amaranth, and the Cavalry of the Nuova Society members and deputies, whose color is white. Each group parades with its own banner depicting Saint Anthony and its own 'festarolo' (host), chosen by lottery the previous year from among the volunteers. This healthy rivalry, characterized by the elegance of the horse trappings and a strong sense of pride, helps make the celebration one of the most significant in the entire region.

The highlights of the festival

Festivities begin in mid-January and culminate over two intense days. On the eve, January 16th, at dusk, Holy Mass is celebrated, followed by a solemn procession through the streets of the historic center, carrying the statue of the Saint amidst hundreds of faithful bearing lit candles. On the morning of the festival, the village streets fill with people of all ages for the highly anticipated cavalry parades: knights and amazons, riding in pairs on richly decorated horses, traverse a route multiple times that touches the most significant landmarks of the village, from the church of San Francesco to San Silvestro and the ancient washhouse.

The blessing of the animals

In Piazza del Comune, the most ancient and heartfelt ritual takes place: the blessing of the animals. Alongside the horses of the two societies, citizens bring their own pets to receive Saint Anthony's protection, in a gesture that renews the centuries-old pact between the agricultural community and its patron saint.

The Ottavario and the homes of the hosts

At the end of the parades, the banners are deposited in the homes of the 'festaroli', which remain open to the public for eight days: this is the Ottavario, during which anyone can enter for a moment of prayer before the Saint's altar and to enjoy cookies, donuts, traditional sweets, and an inevitable glass of wine. Saint Anthony in Sutri is about unity, sharing, and camaraderie: devotion, faith, and respect intertwine with the most genuine hospitality.

Sutri, one of Italy's most beautiful villages

The festival, organized by the Archconfraternity of Saint Anthony Abbot with the patronage of the Municipality of Sutri, is also the ideal opportunity to discover one of the 'Borghi più belli d'Italia' (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy): the Roman amphitheater carved into the tuff, the Mithraeum, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the Palazzo Doebbing Museum tell three thousand years of history along the Via Francigena, in the green heart of the Lazio Tuscia.