Saint Anthony Abbot Festival of Vicovaro

The patron saint of Vicovaro: a seven-century-old devotion

The cult of Saint Anthony Abbot in Vicovaro has been documented since the 14th century, when the church now dedicated to the Egyptian hermit saint housed a hospital for those suffering from herpes zoster, known as "Saint Anthony's fire." The Confraternity of the Most Holy Cross and Saint Anthony Abbot was also founded during this period; for centuries, this association has enlivened the religious and social life of the village through solidarity and support for the vulnerable, and it still preserves the memory of the festival today. It is no surprise that January 17th, the saint's liturgical feast day, is the most significant date on the Vicovaro calendar.

The January 17th Festival

On the day of the feast, vespers and a solemn mass are held, followed by a well-attended procession that departs from the church of Saint Anthony Abbot and winds through the streets of the historic center. The members of the confraternity also march, recognizable by their white robes and red capes featuring the Maltese Cross, the distinctive symbol of the ancient association. Given the importance of the patron saint to the community, the festivities extend for an entire week, alternating religious moments with civic events that involve the whole town.

The Blessing of the Animals

The most famous and beloved ritual of the festival is the blessing of the animals: according to an ancient custom, inhabitants bring their animals to the portico of the saint's church—the protector of animals and the farming world—to receive a blessing. The tradition remains vibrant, attracting families with pets and farm animals every year in a ritual that highlights the deep bond between humanity, the land, and the creatures that inhabit it.

Anise Ciambella and Pastarella: The Flavors of the Festival

As in any proper patronal feast, devotion in Vicovaro has a delicious side. During the festivities, a refreshment featuring anise-flavored ciambella and the traditional "pastarella" of Saint Anthony is offered to the public at the church of San Pietro Apostolo—simple, traditional peasant sweets that have accompanied this January celebration for generations.

The Church of Saint Anthony Abbot

The heart of the festival is the church dedicated to the saint, located south of the town between the Via Tiburtina Valeria and the Aniene River. Rebuilt between 1743 and 1755 by architect Pietro Torelli, it preserves an elegant Renaissance portico with four breccia columns and white marble Doric capitals, under which one can admire a fresco depicting Saint Anthony. Inside, it houses a 16th-century polychrome terracotta statue portraying the saint seated on a throne in the act of blessing: it is around this image that the devotion of the people of Vicovaro has gathered for centuries.

Vicovaro, the Aniene Valley, and Lazio

The municipality of Vicovaro, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in the Lazio region, is a village of ancient origins overlooking the Aniene Valley along the route of the Tiburtina Valeria. The patronal feast is the ideal opportunity to discover its beauties, from the Renaissance temple of San Giacomo to the convent of San Cosimato, and to savor the authentic atmosphere of one of the most characteristic villages in the Roman hinterland, less than an hour from the Capital.