Saint Anthony Abbot Festival
The tradition of the Festarolo and the blessing of the animals in the heart of the Roman Sabina
About Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana
A devotion that spans the centuries
In Mentana, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in the Lazio region, the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is more than just an event: it is the moment the community truly comes together. Devotion to the hermit saint, protector of animals and farmers, is rooted in a distant past when a group of local farmers established a confraternity dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot to organize the town's festival. Since then, the Confraternity of Saint Anthony Abbot, a centuries-old congregation now led by Felice Domenico Stasio, has preserved and passed down this ritual year after year.
The Festarolo, the heart of the tradition
The element that makes the Mentana festival unique is the figure of the Festarolo. At the end of the opening mass in the church of San Nicola da Bari, the new Festarolo is chosen by lottery: a devotee who will welcome the saint's statuette into the main room of their home for twelve months, opening their doors to anyone wishing to pray or simply pay homage. It is a position of prestige and responsibility, experienced with great emotion by the person chosen, and which concludes the following year with a solemn handover to their successor.
Ancient statutes dictated that participants bring the outgoing and incoming Festarolo two ciambelle a cancello—the traditional ritual bread of Mentana—and a bottle of wine: a gesture of sharing that still accompanies the festival's convivial moments today.
Processions, torches, and the blessing of animals
The calendar spans several days and involves both the historic center and the Casali district, home to the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The saint's statue is carried in procession from the home of the outgoing Festarolo to the church, accompanied by a marching band; this is followed by mass and the blessing of the animals, the moment most awaited by families, who arrive with dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals to receive a blessing and, in some editions, a commemorative medal.
As evening falls, the streets of the town light up with torchlight processions: silent and evocative parades that accompany the statue amidst firecrackers and devotional songs, culminating in a fireworks display that closes the festivities in the larger editions.
Faith and popular celebration combined
As one recent Festarolo recounted, in Mentana, Saint Anthony is honored "in a religious way, but also in a pagan way": the liturgical dimension—rosaries, masses, processions—coexists with the convivial side made of refreshments, bands, firecrackers, and long tables. It is precisely this dual soul that makes the festival so vibrant and well-attended, far beyond the circle of the devout.
Why you should attend
- Witness the drawing of the Festarolo, a communal ritual with no equal in the region
- Bring your pets to the blessing on January 17th, the liturgical feast day of Saint Anthony Abbot
- Follow the evening torchlight processions between the town center and the Casali district
- Discover the ciambelle a cancello, traditional ritual bread of the Lazio region
- Experience a festive January just a few kilometers from Rome, far from the typical tourist circuits
Mentana and its territory
Located on the hills northeast of Rome, Mentana is known primarily for the 1867 Risorgimento battle, but it preserves a fabric of rural traditions that the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival keeps intact. Its location, less than thirty kilometers from the capital, makes it an easy destination for those wanting to discover an authentic Lazio, made of confraternities, town festivals, and a deeply rooted popular religiosity.
Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana — edition 2026
The 2026 edition program
Three days marked the festivities organized by the Confraternity of Saint Anthony Abbot, led by Felice Domenico Stasio, with the patronage of the Municipality of Mentana.
Sunday, January 11 — The drawing of the Festarolo
In the church of San Nicola, at the end of the 6:00 PM mass celebrated by the parish priest Don Paolo Spanò, the lottery for the new Festarolo took place—the devotee called to host the statuette of the patron saint of animals for one year. The choice fell on Daniele Angelini, 46, an insurance agent and municipal councilor.
Saturday, January 17 — Procession and blessing of the animals
At 3:45 PM, the saint's statue departed in procession from the home of the outgoing Festarolo, Leandro Panei, towards the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Casali district. Around 5:00 PM, Don Rocco Gazzaneo celebrated mass and presided over the blessing of the animals, the devotional heart of the day. This was followed by a reception offered by the Tempesta family.
Sunday, January 18 — The handover
At 6:00 PM, in the church of San Nicola, the handover ceremony from the outgoing Festarolo Leandro Panei to the new Festarolo Daniele Angelini took place, followed by the concluding torchlight procession to Angelini's home on Via Trentani in Casali. In the following days, from January 19 to 23, evening rosaries were recited before the statuette.
Programme Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana 2026
Sunday, January 11, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Church of San Nicola: Holy Mass celebrated by parish priest Don Paolo Spanò
- Following — Lottery for the new Festarolo for the 2026-2027 year: Daniele Angelini was drawn
Saturday, January 17, 2026 — Casali district
- 3:45 PM — Procession of the Saint Anthony Abbot statue from the home of outgoing Festarolo Leandro Panei towards the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli
- Around 5:00 PM — Holy Mass celebrated by Don Rocco Gazzaneo
- Following — Blessing of the animals
- Reception offered by the Tempesta family
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Church of San Nicola: Handover ceremony of the statuette from outgoing Festarolo Leandro Panei to the new Festarolo Daniele Angelini
- Following — Final torchlight procession to the new Festarolo's home on Via Trentani in Casali
Monday, January 19 to Friday, January 23, 2026
- Recitation of the rosary before the saint's statuette at the Festarolo's home
Highlights Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana 2026
- The drawing of the Festarolo on January 11, the most anticipated and emotional moment of the entire festival
- The blessing of the animals on January 17 in Casali, the liturgical feast day of Saint Anthony Abbot
- The torchlight procession on January 18, accompanying the statuette to its new home for the year
- The testimony of Daniele Angelini, who suffered a stroke in April 2025 and is convinced he was chosen by the saint
- The evening rosaries of the following week, open to all at the Festarolo's home
Prices Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana 2026
Practical information — Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana
How to get there
By car from Rome: Via Nomentana (SS4) or the Grande Raccordo Anulare, Nomentana exit, approximately 30 km. By train: Monterotondo-Mentana station on the FL1 line, then local bus to the center of Mentana. Cotral buses connect Mentana with Rome (Rebibbia station, Metro line B).
Costs
Participation in masses, processions, torchlight parades, and the blessing of animals is completely free and open to everyone.
Practical tips
The celebrations take place in mid-winter and are largely outdoors: heavy clothing is essential. If you bring your animal to the blessing, please keep it on a leash or in a carrier out of respect for the crowd and other animals. Parking in the historic center is limited during processions: it is advisable to leave your car in the outskirts and walk.
Information
For the detailed program of each year, it is recommended to consult the page of the Confraternity of Saint Anthony Abbot of Mentana or the events section of the Mentana Municipality website.
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Where does it take place — Saint Anthony Abbot Mentana
Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari e frazione Casali