Saint Anthony Abbot Festival

A winter festival in the heart of the Roman countryside

The Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is the event that kicks off the year in Magliano Romano, a small village in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region, overlooking the Tiber Valley and the Sabatini Mountains. Here, as in many towns in central Italy, the Egyptian hermit saint is venerated as the protector of animals and the farming world: his feast day, officially January 17th, is celebrated by the community on the third Sunday of January, when the village gathers around the fire.

The bonfire that burns for three days

The most recognizable sign of the festival is the large bonfire lit in the Piazza Risorgimento area. This is not a symbolic fire lasting only a few hours: the woodpile is prepared by volunteers in the preceding days and continues to burn for three days, guarded in shifts by the inhabitants. Families, children, and visitors from neighboring villages gather around the flames in a collective vigil that combines the devotional value of the purifying fire with the simple joy of being together in the January cold.

The blessing of the animals

The most anticipated moment is the blessing of the animals. In the morning, after the religious service, the priest blesses the animals that the locals bring to the square: horses and donkeys, dogs and cats, but also chickens, rabbits, and barnyard animals. It is a gesture that ties the festival to the territory's rural roots, where livestock and field work have marked daily life for centuries. Many owners also arrive from neighboring towns in the Tiber Valley, where the same tradition of Saint Anthony's fires is still very much alive.

Porchetta, wine, and Pro Loco stands

Next to the bonfire, volunteers set up the food stand that has become an integral part of the day. The specialty is porchetta, served in slices along with wine from the Castelli and Roman countryside; there is no shortage of sandwiches, homemade desserts, and hot drinks to brave the winter day. The proceeds support the committee's activities and the following year's initiatives.

A renewed committee

The festival is organized by the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival Committee, recently renewed, which works alongside the parish and the Pro Loco of Magliano Romano. The new board, led by president Matteo Quarta, has announced its intention to reorganize the religious procession, relaunch the blessing of the animals and the traditional bonfire, and add new cultural and gastronomic initiatives to the devotional aspect, with the stated goal of involving all generations of the village and rediscovering the community's rural and popular roots.

What to expect

• Lighting and vigil of the bonfire in Piazza Risorgimento, for three days
• Mass and procession in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot
• Blessing of domestic and farm animals
• Food stand with porchetta, wine, and local products
• Moments of music and social gathering around the fire

The village of Magliano Romano

With just over a thousand inhabitants, Magliano Romano is one of the most intimate centers in the area north of Rome. The historic core, dominated by the baronial palace and the church of San Giovanni Battista, can be visited in a few minutes' walk and offers glimpses of the countryside and woods that surround the town. The January festival is the best opportunity to discover it in its most authentic dimension, far from tourist circuits, when the streets fill with residents and the scent of smoke and porchetta accompanies the entire day.